Earlier this year, HUD Secretary Ben Carson raised eyebrows when he proposed changing the agency’s mission statement, removing references to “sustainable, inclusive communities.” Changes to HUD’s mission statement reflect an underlying problem. The U.S. does not have, nor has it ever had, a comprehensive vision for housing policy. Rather, many separate policies enacted by federal, state, and local government agencies affect housing markets. Only 4 percent of U.S. households (about 5 million low-income families) receive housing subsidies from the federal government. But the availability, quality, cost, and location of housing matters to all Americans.

Here is what policymakers should and shouldn't do to design a more efficient, equitable housing market.

Goal 1: Housing should not harm the health and safety of families or communities.
Goal 2: Information about housing transactions should be clear, so that people and companies can make good decisions.
Goal 3: Housing location, construction, and maintenance should improve environmental sustainability and resilience.
Goal 4: Housing supply should be able to expand to meet demand.
Goal 5: All families should have access to neighborhoods that offer economic opportunity.
Goal 6: To help poor families achieve housing stability, increase their incomes.

Pitfall 1: Don’t subsidize housing in some locations more than in others.
Pitfall 2: Don’t subsidize homeownership over renting.
Pitfall 3: Don’t subsidize real estate over other wealth-building mechanisms.

Read the full article about the nine rules for better housing policy by Jenny Schuetz at Brookings.