CONCLUSION

Housing conditions for the poor have worsened dramatically in the past several years and promise to deteriorate further in the near future. The loss of real income combined with a drastic reduction in federal subsidies pose formidable obstacles for low-income families seeking decent affordable housing.

This paper has attempted to clarify some of the issues related to the shortage of affordable housing for low-income Americans and to suggest ways the Foundation might support efforts to solve that problem. As the paper points out, the Foundation has been actively involved in housing issues for more than twenty years through its support of fair-housing programs, community development corporations, and a variety of efforts to improve low- and moderate-income communities in urban and rural areas. The paper's recommendations for future work complement this long history of grant and PRI support.

As noted at the beginning of the paper, housing needs are too vast to be met directly by foundations. From a sheer production standpoint, the number of units that should be built or rehabilitated is beyond the resources of all foundations combined. Similarly, adjusting incomes to make housing more affordable to the poor is also beyond the financial reach of foundations. However, the Ford Foundation and other philanthropies can make an important contribution by testing innovative models, stimulating public debate, and encouraging the commitment of public resources to low-income housing. Although the Foundation cannot be expected to solve the nation's housing problems, it can provide "seed capital" for efforts that will help shape the contours of housing policy as it unfolds in the future.