He has voted for bills protecting the environment, subsidising health care for the working disabled and securing low-rent housing for the poor.

ECONOMIST: Romancing the Apple

They gave almost 10 percent of the people -- low-income, working people -- two months free rent in public housing.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing with President Obama and President Clinton

Fewer homes were also built using cash from the Scottish government's affordable housing supply programme, which helps provide properties for low-cost rent or ownership, with 6, 882 completed in 2011-12.

BBC: Scottish new builds increase for first time in five years

It has been pushing up the government's bill for housing benefit, the rent it pays on behalf of people who are out of work or on low pay.

ECONOMIST: Housing

The other thing we have to do is, yes, less income households probably should have help with their rent, and we have dramatically cut the programs that assist low-income households from getting access to affordable rental housing.

NPR: A Closer Look: Helping the Working Poor