Question

What is the primary goal of National housing policies?

• A. Addressing housing affordability and accessibility issue
• B. Promoting luxury housing
• C. Encouraging gated communities
• D. Ignoring urban development

Hint:

\textbf{National Housing Policies} aim to ensure "adequate shelter for all."
Key objectives typically include:
Improving housing \textbf{affordability}.
Increasing housing \textbf{accessibility} and availability.
Slum prevention and upgrading.
Promoting sustainable and disaster-resilient housing.
Facilitating housing finance.
Focus is generally on meeting the needs of low- and middle-income groups.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

National housing policies are formulated by governments to address housing needs and challenges within a country. The primary goals of such policies generally revolve around ensuring adequate and affordable housing for all citizens, particularly for low- and middle-income groups and vulnerable populations. Let's evaluate the options:
(a) Addressing housing affordability and accessibility issue: This is a fundamental and primary goal of most national housing policies. Affordability means ensuring that housing costs (purchase or rent) are within the reach of the population. Accessibility means ensuring that housing is available to all segments of society, including considerations for location, physical accessibility for disabled persons, and non-discrimination. Many policies focus on schemes for affordable housing, slum redevelopment, rental housing, and housing finance.
(b) Promoting luxury housing: While a housing market includes luxury segments, national housing policies are typically focused on addressing the needs of the broader population, especially those facing housing shortages or affordability issues, rather than specifically promoting luxury housing (which is usually market-driven).
(c) Encouraging gated communities: Gated communities are a specific type of residential development. While they might be part of the urban landscape, encouraging them is not usually a primary goal of national housing policy, which aims for broader housing solutions and often emphasizes social inclusion.
(d) Ignoring urban development: National housing policies are intrinsically linked to urban (and rural) development. Housing is a key component of urban structure and quality of life. Policies often aim to integrate housing with urban planning, infrastructure, and services. Ignoring urban development would be counterproductive. Therefore, the primary goal of national housing policies is almost universally centered on addressing housing affordability and accessibility issues for the population. \[ \boxed{\text{Addressing housing affordability and accessibility issue}} \]