Housing matters to people, be they owner, renter, housing provider, homeless individual, housing professional, or policymaker. Housing in the United States: The Basics offers an accessible introduction to key concepts and issues in housing-and a concise overview of the programs that affect housing choices, affordability, and access in the United States today. Part I covers the fundamentals of housing: households, housing units, and neighborhoods; housing as basic need vs. human right; supply and demand; construction, rehabilitation, and renovation; and demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural trends. Part II focuses on housing policy and its evolution from the early 20th century, through the Great Recession to the present day; policies related to owner- and renter-occupied housing; tax policies and expenditures; place- and people-based programs; and shortages of affordable housing.