International Journal of

---

House is considered not only as one of the main needs of human beings but also as one of the best determining characteristics of living standard. Housing shortages is one of the most acute problems next to the rapid growth of the large cities and their suburbs in developing countries. These cities take all the opportunities, services and the funds Which a country has to offer,, Despite this fact,, These cities are still dealing and struggling with a variety of urban problems such as : housing shortages, high unemployment rate, urban transportation problems and failure to supply other services, as well as environmental destruction. As the direct result of the allocation of all the resources to the large cities, the other regions of the country, including small cities and the rural areas have become stagnant and underdeveloped. The efforts to speed up the development of the small cities have been intensified to deal with the lack of equilibrium and harmony created by the unbalanced growth and development of the cities. To guide and monitor these developments, the Urban Regional Development and Planning was found to ensure and emphasize dynamism of the small cities. Small cities development can have an effect on the region only if these cities' development is sustainable and Takes place properly therefore, sustainable urban development is one of the requirements for the regional development approach. Housing and its appropriate development is one of the affecting and important factors in achieving urban development and realization of sustainable development in small cities. This article discusses housing's place and its role in the process of achieving sustainable urban development in small cities based on its characteristics and indicators and refers these cities' function in the regional development planning.

---

There are studies about interlocal relations of local governance, but it would be unique to explain these in urban management mechanisms of unitary country in Middle East, like Iran. One of the important issues for the city's urban management system is its state actors’ interrelations and probable challenges of this process, which mentioned by terms like inter-local, intergovernmental, or inter-organizational relations and is the main issue of this article. Present study aims to find the main challenges in the iranian multi-level intergovernmental relations, especially in local-level urban management of small cities. After a review of conflicts among local actors in iranian town’s administration, the contradictory components are summarized in the propositions. In order to better explain findings and utilize the opinions of local decision makers of Natanz city (the study case in Iran), the importance of existing conflicts and challenges was measured via questionnaire and interview. Through factor analysis method, such propositions as lack of updated plans and programs (prepared at national level but for local level), and the unbalanced proportion between scope of duties and authority at local level, are among the most important concerns of them.