Housing policy, like welfare, health, education, and other social policy arenas, is undergoing fundamental reexamination and debate. Not only are objectives and implementation at issue, the very need for housing policy is itself in question. This course provides the background necessary to be an informed participant in this debate and to develop conceptual tools necessary to formulate and implement housing policy. The course introduces key concepts and institutions, emphasizing economic, institutional, and political forces that influence the production, distribution, maintenance, and location of housing. The first part covers the context for U.S. housing policy, including housing market dynamics, housing finance, taxation, and racial discrimination. The second part traces the evolution of federal, state, and local housing programs, with emphasis given to low-income rental housing. The course includes a combination of lectures, class discussion, and videos and concludes with a field trip to a community development corporation.