Evidence, what evidence? The foundations for housing policy

Developments in housing policy and practice have been marked by strong ideological stances and a persistent unwilling-ness to clarify ends and means, so that Key policy questions remain unresolved. Evidence can, and does, impact on policy, but only under certain conditions; for example, if it relates to a specific policy question, is restricted to the interests of a single government department and especially, if it implies reductions in public spending. Moreover; housing's complexity and relationship with a range of policy areas requires a linked perspective, at a local scale. A predominance of sector-specific, cross-sectional and qualitative research, allied to inadequate data impede the production of evidence to meet this challenge.