Toward a New National Housing Policy

Abstract

This essay reviews A Decent Place to Live, by the National Housing Task Force, as well as two other reports used to prepare it. The Task Force's main recommendation is a major new housing supply initiative to address the worsening problems of low-income renters. The Low Income Housing Preservation Commission's report proposes ways to save two million units of privately owned and federally subsidized low-income rental units currently in jeopardy. The National Conference of State Legislatures report identifies a number of state strategies for making housing affordable to low-income families. The broad coverage, up-to-date analyses, and provocative suggestions make these reports an important resource for planners and policymakers.

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