Economic evaluation and statistical methods for detecting hot spots of social and housing difficulties in urban policies

The paper shows a reasoning about how the new national policies on social housing can be implemented in connection with regional and local economic analyses. In this light the role of evaluation is examined, to show which kind of approach can be referred to each dimension, context and level. After a general introduction explaining the main aspects of the National Housing Plan, an example of integrate assessment of rent market and difficulty in housing access is shown, obtained by a scaling that profile some Italian metropolitan reality. All our examples are aiming to demonstrate that only an integrate, multilevel approach, supported by appropriate analysis can succeed in improving supply and quality of housing stock. After a general economic analysis the paper speaks about use statistical data to identify territorial zones (by the use of hot spots) characterized by the presence of urban poverty related to property ownership and the availability of residential services. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.