What are the major housing problems in contemporary Britain? How effective are the policies designed to tackle these problems? These are the central questions this book sets out to answer. In doing so it adopts a critical approach to the processes involved in the identification of housing problems and the formation of policy. Understanding Housing Policy is an up-to-date text on a rapidly changing policy field written by an author with extensive experience in implementing housing policy. Understanding Housing Policy: reviews a number of theoretical perspectives helpful in understanding housing policy; explores the development of housing policy in Britain from a social constructionist perspective; contains a chapter on comparative housing policy; examines a number of contemporary housing problems: homelessness, low demand, overcrowding, affordability and 'decent' homes; devotes a chapter to the relationship between housing and social justice; uses easy-to-digest text boxes to aid learning and teaching with a summary and overview for each chapter. Essential reading for students of housing studies, social and public policy, sociology, economics and politics. It will also be off great interest to social workers and planners.