A disproportionate number of black Americans continue to be ill-housed despite government efforts to overcome this problem. Five factors contribute to this: government policies, which often perpetuate unequal housing markets; the disproportionate number of minority families who are renters rather than homeowners; residential segregation and housing discrimination; black migration; and renewed interest in the inner city. A case in point is Houston, Texas, where despite the housing boom and changes in employment opportunities, housing discrimination complaints filed with the city's Fair Housing Division indicate that housing segregation and discrimination continue to pose a major problem. (WP)