Education for housing conservation

Most city planners will undoubtedly acknowledge the commitment of their profession to local and national housing goals. These goals have for years been partially expressed by local programs to raise the quality of housing to a minimum standard for all citizens. Through these programs the planner has been engulfed in the process of rehabilitating certain housing and removing other. This process has been called urban renewal in some instances, housing conservation, code enforcement and redevelopment in others. The planner, in accepting his role of guiding the development and redevelopment of an area, has not only acquired the responsibility of serving as an advisor, but of advancing new ideas and inspiring change. He is a visionary who must also bridge the gap to help effectuate reasonable plans for the future. Hopefully, the ideas advanced in this study will inspire others to act in the area of housing conservation. This study was prompted by the failure of existing housing conservation efforts to meet the needs of our residents. The approach that was taken recognizes the need of a planner to be a multidisciplinarian. In this instance planning goals are linked to an educational process. By using the tools of education this study suggests that they become a partial solution to the problem of housing conservation.