Housing in the Twenty-First Century
Achieving Common Ground
Published on 30. June 2003
Book
Hardback
528 pages
978-0-674-01093-2 (ISBN)
Description
The Housing Act of 1949 called for a "decent home and suitable living environment" for every American. The progress toward this goal over the last fifty years is generally a story of success. Kent Colton documents the remarkable progress in the areas of housing production, homeownership, and rental housing, the transformation of the nation's housing finance system, the role of government, and the place of housing in the economy. However, significant challenges remain and new issues have arisen.
This work looks to the future using case studies developed during the author's fifteen-year tenure as head of the National Association of Home Builders and includes discussions of real-world problems and the people involved. Highlighting the process of developing and implementing housing policy given the great challenges of working with many diverse interests, the author outlines a housing policy framework based on a set of principles for achieving common ground.
This work looks to the future using case studies developed during the author's fifteen-year tenure as head of the National Association of Home Builders and includes discussions of real-world problems and the people involved. Highlighting the process of developing and implementing housing policy given the great challenges of working with many diverse interests, the author outlines a housing policy framework based on a set of principles for achieving common ground.
Reviews / Votes
Kent Colton has combined analysis along with practical experience that enables practitioners and academics alike to understand how housing policy has evolved over the last fifty years. The book illuminates how politics and personalities can impact, advance, and sometimes thwart public policies. His role in influencing many of these policies gives the book a unique perspective. -- Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies In forty years of involvement in the housing field, Kent Colton is the only one who understands the politics, the economics, and the human side of this subject. Writing with this kind of clarity in this field is a rare exception. -- Richard Ravitch, Principal, Ravitch Rice & Co. LLC and Co-Chair, The Millennial Housing Commission Kent Colton clearly recognizes that a home is far more than a place to live. His new book is invaluable in understanding both national housing policy and process, and it reflects his years of experience. However, the real focus is where it should be--on people. -- Millard Fuller, Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International Dr. Colton's insights, based on years of experience, augment his expert analysis. This book underscores the importance of the housing industry working co-operatively as the primary means to address our serious national challenges. -- Gerald M. Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Home BuildersMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United States
Publishing group
Harvard University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
161 line illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
857 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-674-01093-2 (9780674010932)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kent W. Colton is Senior Scholar in Housing Studies and Jacob Wertheim Research Fellow for the Betterment of Industrial Relations, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.