Housing Policies

High Life: Condo Living in the Suburban Century

by Matthew Lasner

Forthcoming from Yale University Press in 2012

Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family... more Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family dwelling. As the American dream evolves, precipitated by declining real estate prices and a renewed interest in city living, many predict that condos will become the predominant form of housing in the 21st century. In this unprecedented study Matthew Gordon Lasner explores the history of co-owned multifamily housing in the United States, from New York City's first co-op, in 1881, to contemporary condo and townhouse complexes coast to coast. Lasner explains the complicated social, economic, and political factors that have increased demand for this way of living, situating the trend within the larger housing market and broad shifts in residential architecture. He contrasts the prevalence and popularity of condos, townhouses, and other privately governed communities with their ambiguous economic, legal, and social standing, as well as their striking absence from urban and architectural history.

Housing Policy, Federal: An Overview

by Matthew Lasner

The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Political and Legal History, eds. Donald T. Critchlow and Philip R. VanderMeer (New York: Oxford, 2012)

Im Spiegel: Der Wohnungsmarkt in der Türkei

by Yener Coşkun, MRICS

Coskun, Yener. (2012). Im Spiegel: Der Wohnungsmarkt in der Türkei. SPH Newsletter 10 (April): 10-12.

Allgemein gilt: Wohneigentum bietet für
den Einzelnen wie für die Gesellschaft
materielle und immaterielle... more Allgemein gilt: Wohneigentum bietet für
den Einzelnen wie für die Gesellschaft
materielle und immaterielle Vorteile. Obwohl
diese Aussage von psychologischen
und wirtschaftlichen Gründen getragen
ist, schätzen Wirtschafts- und Finanzmakler
es, den Bedarf nach besseren
Wohnbedingungen zu erfüllen. Die Türkei
mit einer Eigentumsrate von fast 68
Prozent und einem dynamischen Wohnungsmarkt
ist da keine Ausnahme.

The Access to Housing of Romanian Roma in Andalusia. Public Practices and Family Strategies in the area of Granada

by Stefano Piemontese

2011 - Master's Thesis. Internationale Migration und Interkulturelle Beziehungen [International Migration and Intercultural Relations], Universität Osnabrück

The study intends to offer an evaluation of the implementation of the social housing and social services schemes in... more The study intends to offer an evaluation of the implementation of the social housing and social services schemes in the case of the Romanian Roma community settled in the suburbs of Granada. Both the family housing strategies (like residential mobility and overcrowding) and the public initiatives aimed at ensuring the access to a decent and adequate housing (based essentially on unsustainable social services' benefits-based housing practices) are analysed. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitative field investigation and is supported by an exhaustive legislative and newspaper-based bibliographic research. It pretends to be a useful instrument for the comparison, at a EU and local level, of diverse policy approaches to housing with respect to the Eastern EU Roma communities settled in Western EU countries.

An Assessment of Service Delivery Plans Submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Garcia, Mary Lou, "An Assessment of Service Delivery Plans Submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program" (2000). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 151.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/151

The paper begins by discussing issues related to poverty including the definition of poverty, the nature and causes of... more The paper begins by discussing issues related to poverty including the definition of poverty, the nature and causes of poverty, the effects of poverty, and the public perceptions about the poor. The discussion then focuses on recent changes to welfare legislation particularly those resulting from the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWOR A) of 1996. The paper then focuses on general issues related to program planning and then turns to a discussion of the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), a program designed to address the issue of poverty and administered by a state agency, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The conceptual framework for the research is developed from the requirements of the Service Delivery Plan (SDP) for CEAP, issued by TDHCA. Service delivery plans submitted for Fiscal Year 1999 and 2000 are analyzed to see if they conform to the requirements promulgated by the department. The methodology and results of the research are described in the latter half' of the paper. Results show that the majority of SDPs submitted to TDHCA for CEAP do not have all the required elements. Recommendations are, therefore, developed in response to the results.

Defining Effective Oversight: A Case Study of Sunset Legislation at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Gilley, Stacy Higgins, "Defining Effective Oversight: A Case Study of Sunset Legislation at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs" (2002). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 224.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/224

Elected bodies utilize a significant number of oversight methods to ensure that the governmental agencies entrusted... more Elected bodies utilize a significant number of oversight methods to ensure that the governmental agencies entrusted with public funds are not only carrying out the will of elected officials, but are doing so in an efficient manner. The question is what constitutes effective government oversight? What are the important components of effective oversight?

The purpose of this research is two fold. First, this paper presents characteristics of effective government oversight as developed from scholarly literature related to agency evaluation. Next, the research takes these characteristics and applies them to the oversight procedure used by the Texas Sunset Review process to explore how closely the process meets the characteristics of effective oversight. To conduct this exploration, a case study of the Sunset Review process at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is utilized. In this way assessing the implementation of Sunset allows for a more complete view of effective oversight as well as a deeper understanding of the Texas Sunset Review process.

The literature provides four primary characteristics of effective oversight:
1. Effective oversight is detailed
2. Effective oversight is comprehensive
3. Effective oversight contains an "in person" element
4. Effective oversight results in legislative action

Based on the evidence provided via the case study in the form of document analysis and interviews, it was determined that the Sunset Review process as implemented at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs was 1) effective, 2) contained an "in person" element and 3) resulted in legislative action, however the evidence did not support the conclusion that the Sunset Review process as implemented at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs was comprehensive.

The paper concludes with recommendations for future research in two areas; 1) how the application of the "community of inquiry" concept, as discussed by Patricia Shields in her forthcoming article.' would improve the Sunset Review process and 2) a comparison of the Sunset staff's notes to the final sunset report as well as the Sunset staff's report to the final legislation.

Social Report 2004 - Housing Conditions and State Assistance, 1999-2003

by TARKI Social Research Institute

The Social Report 2004 is logically divided into six sections covering social indicators, demographic processes, the labour market, the information society, minorities in Hungary and political behaviour.

The paper describes briefly the main findings of the latest housing surveys in con-nection with the composition and... more The paper describes briefly the main findings of the latest housing surveys in con-nection with the composition and quality of the housing stock and the most typical characteristics of the Hungarian housing market. It concludes that despite the con-tinuous improvement of the overall housing quality indicators the share of substan-dard housing decreases rather slowly.

Managing assets and risks through ownership and regeneration: housing policy in the Netherlands

by Wouter van Gent

A slightly altered version of this paper was published as:
Van Gent, W. P. C. (2010) "Managing Assets and Risks through Ownership and Regeneration: Housing Policies in the Netherlands", in: J. Doling, M. Elsinga and R. Ronald (eds.) Home Ownership; Getting in, Getting from, Getting out, Part III (Delft/ Amsterdam, Delft University Press/ IOS Press), pp 101-118.

Owner occupancy has been on the rise in recent decades. While some countries have had high rates of owner occupancy... more Owner occupancy has been on the rise in recent decades. While some countries have had high rates of owner occupancy for some time, many traditionally rental-oriented countries in Western Europe are showing increasing rates of owner occupancy. This trend is related to top-down government policies that encourage this form of tenure.The promotion of owner occupancy is best understood in relation to the distinct ideology, or ideologies, of home ownership.
The first aim of this paper is to examine Dutch housing policy for the presence of an ownership/asset ideology, and to appraise this ideology within the context of the Dutch housing system.
The second aim of this chapter is to illuminate the role of urban regeneration in the promotion of owner occupancy. This paper will argue that urban regeneration is both a strategy for reforming the housing supply and a strategy of risk mitigation.

Own-your-owns, Co-ops, Town Houses: Hybrid Housing Types and the New Urban Form in Postwar Southern California

by Matthew Lasner

Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 68, no. 3 (Sept. 2009): 378-403

Housing Markets in Turkey: An Overview

by Yener Coşkun, MRICS

Coşkun, Yener. (2011). Housing Markets in Turkey: An Overview. October. European Mortgage Federation (EMF) Mortgage Info: 2-4.

However, no one knows the final direction that the global financial crisis will take. Turkey seems to have decoupled... more However, no one knows the final direction that the global financial crisis will take. Turkey seems to have decoupled from the other countries during the turmoil, at least for now. Taking into account the instabilities and crises which have been observed since the 1980s, this seems to be good news. But, as a senior member of the “emerging markets club”, Turkey still has important economic problems. A long-standing current account problem,1 high level of PSBR (government deficit), structural domestic economic problems and risks of short-term capital movements are still important challenges for the Turkish economy. Therefore, foreign direct/portfolio investors generally
tend to analyse the country’s economic future objectively.

Armoedige kamers: een orienterend onderzoek naar functies van irregulier kamerverhuur in Rotterdam

by Alex Hekelaar

“The Poverty Deconcentration Imperative and Public Housing Transformation.”

by Chandra Ward

Public housing has been on the chopping block for almost two decades now in an effort to deconcentrate poverty. In... more Public housing has been on the chopping block for almost two decades now in an effort to deconcentrate poverty. In 1992 the federal government created the Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) VI program. HOPE VI is driven by the assumption that deconcentrating neighborhood-level poverty will yield better access to upward mobility opportunities for former public housing residents. To accomplish this, existing public housing is demolished and replaced with mixed-income developments. Public housing residents are relocated, many with Housing Choice Voucher subsidies to private-market rental housing. However, by its very definition mixed income means that only a small percentage of former residents get the opportunity to return. Do voucher relocated residents end up in lower poverty neighborhoods with greater upward mobility opportunities? We examine the spatial organization of relocation within the critical discourse on the deconcentration imperative. We highlight Atlanta because it recently became the first city in the nation to eliminate all of its public housing. Findings reveal that voucher relocatees end up in neighborhoods with modestly less poverty than the public housing neighborhoods they left. Questions remain about what poverty deconcentration means vis-à-vis policy goals. We provide recommendations for future research.

An Analysis Of The Opportunities And Weaknessess Of The Turkish Real Estate Market

by Yener Coşkun, MRICS

Working Paper, ERES Conference 2010 Milano 23- 26th June 2010.

Real estate is one of the foremost and traditional investments for Turkish household. In addition to this traditional... more Real estate is one of the foremost and traditional investments for Turkish household. In addition to this traditional demand, it has also observed that Turkish real estate market becomes one of the popular investment destination for foreign investors. 2003-2007 period would be accepted as the boom period for Turkish economy in general and real estate sector in specific. Although there are considerable opportunities in the market, both Turkish economy and real estate sector suffer important structural problems. Hence, the objective assesment for the Turkish real estate market requires a cost-benefit analysis. In this paper, the author is attempting to reach an objective approach presenting both strong and also weak sides of market. The critical point is current deficiencies of the market may result negative impacts on further development. As a solution, we suggest that Real Estate Regulation and Supervision Agency should be established as a new government agency. To our view, primary expectation of this agency is to issue regulations/standards for real estate brokerage/ marketing/appraisal, and also housing finance to enhance consumer protection, public interest and market efficiency.
Keywords: Turkish real estate market, consumer protection in real estate, real estate appraisal, Real Estate Regulation and Supervision Agency.
Jel Classification: G21, R14, O18.

Social mix and passive revolution. A neo-gramscian analysis of the social mix rhetoric in Flanders, Belgium

by loopmans maarten

Eficiência Espacial das Politicas de Habitação: Requisito Fundamental para o Desenvolvimento Urbano Sustentável?

by David Vale

Congresso Internacional “Ordenamento Territorial e Desenvolvimento Urbano”, ISCSP, Lisboa, 2004

A procura de um tipo de cidade mais sustentável levou à implementação de políticas urbanas de revitalização do centro... more A procura de um tipo de cidade mais sustentável levou à implementação de políticas urbanas de revitalização do centro urbano principal e ao reforço do policentrismo nas áreas metropolitanas.
Pretende-se com estas medidas contrariar a expansão urbana desqualificada e monótona, qualificando os espaços urbanos e suburbanos e, simultaneamente, combater o congestionamento das áreas centrais, criando pólos dinamizadores de territórios sub-regionais.
Contudo, a uma área metropolitana policêntrica não correspondem directamente padrões de mobilidade mais sustentáveis, sendo fundamental para isso a implementação de políticas habitacionais eficazes espacialmente e a compreensão das necessidades habitacionais criadas pela criação dessas novas centralidades.
Este artigo explora estes conceitos, apresentando o contexto da sustentabilidade e a sua aplicação ao meio urbano, uma descrição das principais políticas Europeias e nacionais que fomentam a alteração do meio urbano e, finalmente, uma discussão do papel que cabe às políticas habitacionais para a promoção de uma cidade policêntrica mais sustentável.

BARRIERS TO FAIR HOUSING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION: FINANCE, REGULATION, AND PUBLIC OPINION

by Rosie Tighe

Book Chapter

While funding and policy guidance for affordable housing comes from the federal level, siting and development... more While funding and policy guidance for affordable housing comes from the federal level, siting and development decision-making occurs locally. Individual cities and towns bear the responsibility to respond effectively to the housing needs of their needy populations. In the current policy context, “Affordable Housing” is most often privately built and publicly subsidized. While politically expedient and in line with American values, this system does not perform without challenges. Implementation of federal housing goals necessitates the construction of delicate financing systems, the navigation of local regulatory systems, and the assessment and mitigation of public opposition.

Throughout the twentieth century, the necessity to produce complicated and delicate financing structures; to navigate local, regional, and state regulatory systems, and to appease a skeptical public, thwarted the success of public policies designed to alleviate poor and unaffordable housing conditions. This chapter analyzes how each of these barriers can prevent advocates, developers, and policymakers from achieving affordability and access to opportunity through the production of federally subsidized housing. Understanding these barriers to implementation is an essential component of producing successful fair housing policies in the future. 

DOES RE-DESIGN OF THE POLICIES ON HOUSING FINANCE AND SUPPLY HELP TO SOLVE HOUSING QUESTION OF TURKEY?

by Yener Coşkun, MRICS

Coskun, Yener. (2011). Does Re-Design of the Policies on Housing Finance and Supply Help to Solve Housing Question of Turkey? (June 18, 2011). 18th Annual ERES Conference, Eindhoven, Holland, June 15-18, 2010. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1868758

Housing is one of the major socio-economic problems in Turkey. Widespread spontaneous settlements in urban area may be... more Housing is one of the major socio-economic problems in Turkey. Widespread spontaneous settlements in urban area may be accepted as the sufficient criterion for the level of housing question in Turkey. Additionally, there are important quality problems in existing housing units. This problematic structure may be also explained by the lack of efficient housing policies and housing finance system. It seems after 2003 that housing policy of Turkey is essentially based on the Housing Development Administration‟s (HDA) pragmatic approaches. In this context, we may argue that the current housing policy is one-dimensional and also would be unsustainable in some perspectives. In this experimental research, the author attempts to analyze limitations and clear/potential problems of the housing policies of HDA. We basically analyze whether affordable housing problem is minimize with alternative policies and required incentives. In this context, we review housing subsidies and PPPs as the instruments of alternative social/private rental housing supply models. In a broader perspective, the original contribution of this paper is to examine private rental housing, social rental housing, urban renewal, micro-finance and housing production of REITs as the alternative housing supply/finance models to improve affordable housing. We conclude that these alternative housing supply/finance models may improve housing affordability and hence minimize the housing question in Turkey, if they can optimally design and required incentives may meet by the central/local governments.

La identificación de los mercados de vivienda con mercados de trabajo: breve nota metodológica (The identification of local housing markets through local labour markets. A brief methodological note - text in Spanish)

by José M. Casado-Díaz

Casado Díaz, JM (2005) “La identificación de los mercados de vivienda con mercados de trabajo: breve nota metodológica”, Economistas, nº. 105; 184-187.

Este trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco de los proyectos «Movilidad cotidiana y mercados de vivienda y trabajo en las áreas urbanas españolas», que financia el Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia en el marco del Plan Nacional de I+D+i (BEC 2003-02391), y «Los efectos de la migración de retirados europeos en el mercado de vivienda en la Comunidad Valenciana», que financia la Generalitat Valenciana (GV04B-530).

Tras discutir el concepto de mercado local de trabajo (local labour market) se proponen dos alternativas para la... more Tras discutir el concepto de mercado local de trabajo (local labour market) se proponen dos alternativas para la identificación de mercados locales de vivienda (local housing markets). La primera de ellas es utilizar la delimitación de mercados locales de trabajo a partir de los patrones agregados de movilidad residencia-trabajo como geografía relevante también para el análisis de los mercados de vivienda (mercados entendidos como ámbitos en los que es posible cambiar de empleo sin que ello implique un cambio de lugar de residencia - y vicecersa). Una opción alternativa es realizar un ejercicio similar al de identificación de mercados locales de trabajo aplicando métodos análogos a aquéllos para delimitar mercados locales de vivienda mediante fronteras relativamente impermeables a los movimientos de carácter residencial. Se trataría de mercados en los que a) la mayor parte de las compras de vivienda como residencia permanente son efectuadas por personas que anteriormente residían dentro del área funcional y, simultáneamente, b) la mayor parte de las personas que cambian de residencia lo hacen hacia un municipio que también forma parte del mercado.

Community-focused Urban Development

by Tom Moore

Published in November 2010 by the Resource for Urban Design Information, part of an Urban Intelligence Network for public and private sector officials. The article appears on p23 of the PLACEmaking publication.

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) offer a potential solution to delivering development at local scales in urban and rural... more Community Land Trusts (CLTs) offer a potential solution to delivering development at local scales in urban and rural areas. A typical CLT will acquire land, develop housing and amenities and sell the properties at an affordable price, usually linked to local incomes or fixed at a low percentage of market value.