As with other socially-responsible industries, the real estate industry must be a part of addressing issues relating to communities and the environment. Towns and cities, as well as recreational developments, have environmental impacts and, with growing awareness of land use issues and pollution, the public requires both the public and private-sectors to collaborate to address these problems. Home ownership is also considered by many in a democratic society to be a right but, for many of the poor and disadvantaged, this becomes an unrealizable dream. Real estate professionals are conscious of these issues, including urban sprawl, and are exploring ways to help governments and communities to address them. This section provides a brief introduction to some of these important issues facing the real estate industry.