NEEDS AND CHOICE IN HOUSING - AN INDIVIDUALIST APPROACH

This article discusses the notion of need as a non-intentional state a nd discusses the distinction between housing as a basic or instrumenta l need. lt suggests that housing is an example of an instrumental need and thus related to individual choices. The article uses this definit ion of need to undertake a critique of the notion of housing need base d on the merit good argument of government intervention. The article c oncluded by suggesting a moral basis akin to that of Nozick (1974) whi ch could serve as a framework for housing processes based on individua list notions of need and choice.