Affordable housing is a broad and complex subject intertwined with many disciplines: finance, economics, politics, and social services, to name a few. In spite of the complexity, advocates may come to an understanding of the essential workings of affordable housing, and, in doing so, be prepared to advocate effectively for the programs and policies that can ensure access to decent, affordable housing for the people in need in their communities.

This article provides a broad, though not exhaustive, overview of the history of affordable rental housing programs in the United States, and attempts to paint a picture of how those programs work together to meet the housing needs of low-income people.