This paper provides information on the housing situation in sub-Saharan Africa and presents a series of policy and program options that should be considered by U.S. policy makers and the private sector to increase U.S. support to the critical housing and urban development sector. The paper is based on a review of secondary source materials, interviews with U.S. government and international donor policy makers and short visits in March 2007 to four countries, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria, to meet with housing experts and officials.