Minority perceptions of housing needs and the planning of a housing aid policy: the urbanizing Arab village in Israel

A process of planning a housing aid policy for a distinct minority, the urbanizing Arab villagers of Israel, is delineated. It reveals that the inclusion of primary grassroot values and sources of legitimacy in the process makes the policy acceptable to the minority, and reflects their perceptions of housing needs. Primary data are employed to define levels of housing distress and eligibility criteria for government aid, and to determine the efficiency of various sums from aid funds to motivate families to take action in the improvement of their housing. Other possible impacts of government housing aid funds on the built environment are discussed.