RECENT US URBAN CHANGE AND POLICY INITIATIVES

This paper provides an account of recent urban change and policy initi atives in the US. The paper describes how processes of global change h ave impacted upon economic activity and social life in the US, leading to the decline and isolation of inner-city areas, The urban, housing and community development policies of the Clinton administration, whic h aim to enable these communities to rejoin the economic mainstream, a re then discussed. These strategies include: tackling homelessness add ressing the problems of distressed public housing communities; the exp ansion of affordable housing (with an emphasis on home-ownership); ope ning housing markets to all Americans regardless of race and ethnic or igins; and, increasing the economic opportunities of inner-city popula tions.