Group 1: Overview of the U.S. Housing Assistance System - The U.S. housing assistance system is primarily reliant on the private housing market, with only 2.7% of the total population benefiting from it, indicating a low coverage compared to other developed countries [3][7][23] - The system has evolved over nearly a century, undergoing multiple revisions and improvements, which have led to the establishment of fair and efficient institutional arrangements worth studying [3][23][26] Group 2: Structure and Functioning of the Housing Assistance System - The housing assistance system is funded by the federal government and executed by state and local governments, providing support to low-income families through three main forms: public rental housing, project-based rental assistance, and housing vouchers [4][5][7] - As of 2023, approximately 5.13 million units are included in the housing assistance system, accounting for 3.6% of the total housing stock in the U.S., with 9.05 million residents receiving assistance [7][14] Group 3: Historical Development and Current Status - The U.S. housing assistance system dates back to the 1930s, initially aimed at providing affordable housing during the Great Depression, but has faced challenges such as high costs and inefficiencies [4][5][14] - By 2023, the number of public rental housing units has decreased to 886,000, reflecting a shift towards a model that relies more on private housing sources [5][7] Group 4: Evaluation and Oversight Mechanisms - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has established a multi-dimensional evaluation system to monitor and assess the performance of local public housing agencies, ensuring accountability and quality in service delivery [12][27] - Local public housing agencies are required to submit data to HUD for performance evaluation, which influences funding and operational oversight [12][14] Group 5: Financing Support for Homebuyers - In addition to housing assistance, the federal government has created official or semi-official institutions to provide mortgage insurance and support mortgage securitization, thereby improving financing conditions for homebuyers [15][17] - The U.S. mortgage market has grown significantly, with the total mortgage balance nearing $14 trillion by 2023, reflecting a robust financing environment for homeownership [17][19] Group 6: Lessons and Insights - The U.S. housing assistance system demonstrates the importance of a balanced relationship between federal oversight and local execution, ensuring efficiency while addressing local needs [26][27] - The evolution of the system highlights the necessity of effective incentive and constraint mechanisms to prevent mismanagement and ensure that assistance reaches those in need [27][28] - The reliance on private housing markets, coupled with government support, illustrates a model that could be beneficial for other countries to consider in their housing policies [28][29]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the U.S. housing assistance system, which primarily relies on the private housing market and has a low coverage of social security functions, benefiting only 2.7% of the total population. Despite its small scale, the system has nearly a century of history, undergoing multiple revisions and improvements, and has developed some equitable and efficient institutional arrangements worth studying and learning from [2][4][26]. Group 1: Overview of the U.S. Housing Assistance System - The U.S. housing assistance system is funded by the federal government and executed by state and local governments, providing support to low-income families through three main forms: public rental housing, project-based rental assistance, and housing vouchers [2][5][6]. - The system has evolved since the 1930s, with significant changes in the 1960s to incorporate the private sector, leading to a shift towards a model where private housing sources dominate, and public housing plays a supplementary role [6][9]. - As of 2023, approximately 5.13 million units are included in the housing assistance system, accounting for 3.6% of the total housing stock, with public housing making up only 17.3% of the assistance forms [9][12]. Group 2: Evaluation and Management of Public Housing - The federal government has established a multi-dimensional public housing evaluation system to monitor and assess local public housing agencies, ensuring efficiency and quality in operations [3][15]. - Local public housing agencies are responsible for managing applications and setting rent standards, with eligibility typically requiring income below 80% of the area median income [15][16]. - Due to insufficient funding and limited housing stock, many eligible families face long waiting times, averaging 25 months, to receive assistance [16]. Group 3: Financing Support for Homebuyers - Beyond public housing, the federal government has set up official or semi-official institutions to provide mortgage insurance and support mortgage securitization, helping homebuyers improve financing conditions and reduce costs [18][20]. - The establishment of the Home Owner's Loan Corporation in 1933 and the Federal Housing Administration in 1934 marked significant steps in providing long-term, fixed-rate mortgage products to stabilize the housing market [19][20]. - By 2023, the U.S. housing mortgage market has grown to nearly $14 trillion, with the mortgage-to-GDP ratio exceeding 50%, indicating a robust financing environment for homebuyers [20][23]. Group 4: Lessons and Insights - The U.S. housing assistance system, while limited in scope, has developed effective practices over nearly a century that balance equity and efficiency, such as the division of responsibilities between federal and local governments [26][30]. - The establishment of a comprehensive evaluation and incentive mechanism by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps prevent local agencies from neglecting management in favor of supply [31]. - The relationship between government and the market is crucial, as the system relies heavily on private housing resources while the government provides necessary support to facilitate homeownership [32].