Comment on William Apgar's “Which housing policy is best?”

William Apgar’s paper represents a new stage in the “voucher/ production debate.” Advocates of subsidized production programs have typically advanced two arguments: the poor live in bad housing that needs to be replaced, and “vouchers do not work in tight markets.” Apgar does not make these claims. He argues rather in terms of affordable housing and program costs, issues that have been stressed by those who favor tenant-based assistance.