Well, you've certainly anticipated my reaction. I do think this is potentially a very good idea.
Most people on both sides of the aisle seem to agree that much of our current troubles stem from the fact that some people who bought houses on credit should actually have been renting. Given that, it makes perfect sense to rent rather than sell.
Perhaps it would be better to sell them to a private organization that would then rent them out. However, I doubt the government would get good value if it tried to sell now, home prices being what they are. If the choice is between letting them lie vacant and generating revenue for the government and providing a service to the renters, it seems obvious to me. The article notes that demand for rentals has gone up, while of course demand for home ownership has fallen, so this is the government responding to market forces just like any other entity.