In a mostly light-hearted interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro defended the agency against Republican calls for its shutdown.
Castro pointed to his agency's success in reducing the number of military veterans who are homeless.
"Between 2010 and 2015 we saw veteran homelessness decline by 36% largely because of HUD funding to local communities like San Diego," he said. He gave an anecdote about meeting a formerly homeless veteran who now buys and rents out apartments to currently homeless vets.
Colbert asked HUD's involvement with foreclosed houses (after mentioning he recently saw "The Big Short"). Castro replied one of the Obama administration's success stories was that it was able to ensure that more than 1 million people were able to keep their homes through modifications or refinancings as well as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
The remainder of the interview humorously covered where he will be during the State of the Union; Castro's relationship with his twin brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D.-Texas; and if he was on the vice presidential candidate short list; and his lack of fluency in Spanish.
Watch the interview here:
