ABSTRACT
Historically, the housing policy system has changed by slow accretion of minor amendments. The recommendations provide the framework for a complete system for allocating social housing funding and extra housing. Fortunately, at present housing has a relatively low profile, which makes change easier in some respects. The same is true of our housing needs surveys, since they are based on Register topics, which also include condition matters. Cross-checking of needs survey data with Register data would probably suffice to ensure an accurate system. For most purposes, however, the periodic survey information and day-to-day housing management information could be systematically combined, resulting in a far stronger basis for housing strategy than now exists. This chapter illustrates how the proposed system would operate, in the context of a summary of the present mechanisms for allocating housing numbers and public funding. Government funding for housing has always been political.
