Race and Housing: A Review and Comments on the Content and Effects of Federal Policy

Unlike school integration measures, housing and community development policies attack the causes rather than simply the symptoms of racial segregation in urban communities. Federal policies are examined with regard to two goals: protection of the individual's right to a decent home and a suitable living environment, and the social goal of achieving stable interracial residential environments. Although both supply and demand housing strategies have had some, but still unmeasured, success in realizing both goals, the public and private sector delivery systems have sustained the dual housing market. Future progress will depend on the mixture of demand and supply strategies adopted, changes in delivery systems, the success of federal enforcement efforts, the emphasis placed on broad strategy options, and socioeconomic trends not easily influenced by public policy.