Country’s empty housing area (7)
I believe the answer is:
hungary
'country's' is the definition.
(Hungary is an example)
'empty housing area' is the wordplay.
'empty' becomes 'hungry' (similar in meaning).
'housing' indicates putting letters inside.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'hungry' placed around 'a' is 'HUNGARY'.
(Other definitions for hungary that I've seen before include "vizsla from here?" , "East European country" , "part of Europe" , "Country bordered by Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria" , "Liszt's land" .)