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Although the Korean government reported a housing supply ratio of more than 100% in the early 2000s, regional and class disparities in the Korean housing sector have not been correspondingly alleviated. Unfortunately, many Korean households are still enduring the economic burden caused by cyclical price variation, while many housing construction companies are on the verge of bankruptcy. To resolve the ever-expanding socioeconomic problems in the housing and real estate sector, the current Korean government proposed 831 Countermeasures, which has since met with much controversy. In an effort to address these issues, this paper utilizes a qualitative system dynamics model to elucidate and interrogate complex Korean housing mechanisms. By mapping bibliographical and experimental knowledge with causal loop diagrams, the positive and adverse effects of the 831 Countermeasures are also analyzed. Finally, based on the research findings, alternative policy guidelines are proposed that can be used to strengthen positive housing structures and obviate negative ones. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000159 CE Database subject headings: Korea, south; Housing; Policies. Author keywords: 831 Countermeasures; Korean housing market; Policies.

Research has documented illicit drug users' participation in the informal and drug economies as a result of barriers in obtaining legitimate sources of work and income. Less research has explored ways drug users utilize income from various sources to obtain shelter and meet other basic needs. This paper draws on longitudinal qualitative interviews that were conducted with 65 active cocaine or heroin users in various housed or homeless statuses to explore participants' sources of income, work experiences, and strategies to secure housing and other basic needs. Results indicate that most participants did not receive cash welfare benefits, and few had any form of employment. Further, those who received federal housing subsidies often had no income to pay their part of the rent or other necessities. Participants reported engaging in a number of informal, illegal, and bartering relationships with drug using and non-drug using residents in order to obtain shelter and income. Insufficient social welfare and employment opportunities have created a context of scarcity in which drug using and non-drug using residents depend on each other to obtain shelter and other needs in ways prohibited by federal welfare and housing policies. A number of policy changes, including increasing access to and benefits levels of welfare and housing subsidies, employment programs for ex-offenders and tax incentives to increase employment opportunities, may increase drug users' housing stability. Key words: drug use, informal economy, housing, welfare reform

In the last decade, the UK New Labour government has emphasised tenant participation in housing policy. Consequently, those individuals who decide to opt out of participation processes have been problematised as 'apathetic', and identified as needing to be 'empowered' through professional interventions. Drawing on research about community ownership in Glasgow, this paper argues that tenants' reasons for not getting involved are more than simply lack of interest. Tenants articulated an instrumental approach to participation, and rejected the conflation of tenant participation with tenant management. Practical barriers also obstructed their latent motivation.

Labor unions in the United States were involved in producing and advocating for affordable housing in the period after World War II, when labor wielded legislative, electoral, and economic power both nationally and locally. That involvement now has ceased almost completely. This article uses historical analysis to explore how labor unions influenced national housing policies and programs in the postwar United States, and considers how the labor and housing movements do and could collaborate today to meet the current pressing need for affordable housing, through alliances between organized labor and community groups in support of better housing and more unionized construction jobs. Keywords: affordable housing; urban development; labor movement; community-labor partnerships; housing policy

Population migrations in Israel simultaneously move in two opposite directions: while the initial distribution of new immigrants is primarily focused on big cities of the country's central core, the existing population of these centres tends to move outward, to small settlements where housing is more readily available. The effect of housing construction on population migrations appears to be delayed and tends to become visible with the passage of time. The initial low attractiveness of urban settlements in peripheral districts of the country to the new immigrants is mainly caused by small size of the population in the settlements and an inferior state of urban development rather than by a lack of new housing or the harsh climatic conditions of these areas., The Israeli government has a housing policy of developing rural areas in preference to urban areas. However, despite low interest loans and good availability of property, these areas are not popular with immigrants, who prefer urban centres. It is established urban residents who tend to move out to peripheral areas. It can take about two years for new housing developments to be occupied and this is a factor to consider when developing housing policies. Making urban areas more attractive may encourage more immigrants to settle in urban areas., Overcoming the inequalities in the level of socio-economic development between central and peripheral regions is a major concern for regional planning worldwide. The importance of this issue has grown in [...]

British National Housing Federation chief executive Jim Coulter has acknowledged the agency's need to address the problems embedded in its social housing policies. A chief concern involves the problem of the incidence of high investment housing projects without a community that can afford paying for them. The 1988 Housing Act assumed that tenants could afford to pay 35% of their income in rents, however, under current rates, tenants pay some 30% of their income. Mr Coulter intends to increase or stabilize grant rates for socialized housing for 1998 and 1999.

Elderly residents of housing facilities that are supported by the government are typically older, more confined, poorer and weaker than other old people residing in other places. In response, policymakers, researchers, housing sponsors and service providers are linking housing and services for the elderly in multi-unit housings. Aged people who avail of these integrated services are autonomous, stay in their homes longer and maximize their benefits from the public service and benefits system. However, these programs are advantageous not only to the elderly who receive them but also to their families, housing sponsors, managers and service providers because they make their work and lives easier. A good guide for the professionals who want to link housing and services programs for the elderly can consult the report called 'Pivotal Choices in Housing and Services Program' and its companion report, 'Linking Housing and Services: Six Case Studies.'

A housing specialist on the staff of the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) will be of considerable help in collaborative aging and housing-related activities. Federal and state policymakers should try to develop housing policies for the aged based on cooperation between AAAs and housing agencies and proper funding. Policy-makers need to encourage AAAs to work with housing agencies by the way of incentives.

A study of the cause and effect of poverty and homelessness in America indicates that, compared to the traditionally homeless, recent homeless comprise visible, younger people, more women with children and more ethnic minorities. The policies addressing the problems related with homelessness may be grouped into health, economic, housing, social programs and religious approaches. Various programs aimed at providing short-term rehabilitation along with strengthening personal responsibility and reforming the welfare system are essential.

State intervention in public housing proposals in a mixed economy needs to be reviewed in order to remove the disparity between the rich and the poor. The lack of commitment for the creation of housing provisions for the poor and the proposals for privatization have made a mess of housing policy. The subsidies to private contracters have not proven beneficial for the homeless. The use of housing vouchers and homeownership for welfare recipients has shown better results.

Community-wide service integration is seen as the key to providing more effective social programs. Service integration involves combining housing, job training and education programs with special services to better fulfill the varying needs oflow income families. A number of steps can be taken to remove the obstacles to a community-wide service integration strategy. These include decreasing the number of programs by widening their scope, offering client-centered assistanceand a social contract, promoting cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, and developing the support systems necessary for integration. The success of integration efforts also depends on encouraging theparticipation of key people in planning, developing qualified group leaders, creating a mission statement and long-range planning.

A study was conducted to show that large scale social housing should not be the focus of progressive housing policy in the 21st century. The focus should instead by on programs that directly help the homeless. This requires a combination of housing with social support programs, or a supportive housing strategy.

This paper is concerned with how administrators in the Housing Benefit (HB) service in Great Britain have reacted to the discretionary powers given to local authorities as a result of the introduction of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). DHPs can be awarded to HB claimants deemed to require additional assistance with their housing costs. The paper first argues that the HB service can be categorized as 'rule-bound' before outlining the DHP regime and the nature of the discretion that it affords HB administrators. A brief review of the literature on discretionary decision making in public service organizations suggests four propositions in respect of DHP decision making. The paper then seeks to test these propositions. It concludes that in general HB administrators do not appear to have experienced the difficulties associated with discretionary decision making in rule-bound services that might have been expected on the basis of previous work in this field.

France's housing construction incentives, such as fiscal measures, social housing, and institutional methods, are contrasted to those of the United Kingdom. While construction aids may produce affordable housing in the UK, they may deplete funds that could assist the poor.

Plans to provide more affordable housing, reduce homelessness and boost regeneration are among the priorities outlined in two regional housing strategies for London and the South East launched last week. [...]

The government is urging key workers to take advantage of its revamped starter homes initiative before the scheme's deadline next March. Deputy prime minister John Prescott said this week that [...]

High-density housing schemes need not mean cramped and undesirable homes, says Marino Donati Messages about building housing at higher densities have been sent out by the government since PPG3 on [...]

The UK is failing to deliver an effective housing policy. The depth of this failure is demonstrated by a few facts. - There is a shortfall of at least 26 [...]

We examine short-run impacts of changes in residential neighborhoods on the well-being of families residing in high-poverty public housing projects who received Section 8 housing vouchers through a random lottery. [...]

Q. WHAT IS HOMELESSNESS? A. Council to Homeless Persons Victoria defines a homeless person as someone who `is without a conventional home and lacks the economic and social supports that [...]

Summary. Housing policy formulation should be informed by a careful understanding of the behaviour of the urban housing market, as reflected by housing demand behaviour. Such basic information is important, [...]