THE NORTHEAST
HOUSING
SQUEEZE:
Searching for
Solutions
After years of underfunding and
neglect, housing is back on the national
political agenda. Although budget
constraints rule out a return of the deep
subsidy programs of the 1960s and
1970s, increased federal funding for
housing assistance is likely as the
nation addresses its housing problem.
Here in New England, state and local
capacity to participate in new housing
initiatives is strong. Each state in the
region boasts of active state housing
finance agencies, committee city and
town officials, and strong communitybased
development groups. But despite
the prospects of increased
funding—federal or state—and the
commitment of local officials, the
region faces a larger problem. Unless
methods can be created to expand the
land available for development,