An Overview of Federal Housing Assistance Programs

The federal government has been involved in providing housing assistance to lower-income households since the 1930s. In the beginning, the federal government was involved in supporting the mortgage market (through establishment of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the government-sponsored enterprises) and in promoting construction of low-rent public housing for lower-income families through local public housing authorities. Over time, the role of the federal government has shifted away from providing construction-based subsidies to providing rental subsidies; private developers and property owners now play a larger role; and, more federal funding has been provided to states and localities. This book provides an overview of the history and evolution of federal housing assistance programs and policy, information about the main programs, and a discussion of recent issues and trends.