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Long-term effects of public low-income housing vouchers on neighborhood quality and household composition

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  • Carlson, Deven
  • Haveman, Robert
  • Kaplan, Thomas
  • Wolfe, Barbara

Abstract

In this paper we estimate the effect of housing voucher receipt on the composition of recipient households and the quality of the neighborhoods in which recipient households reside. Drawing on a dataset that contains extensive information on a large and diverse panel of low-income families for up to 5years following voucher receipt, we isolate the effects of voucher receipt using propensity score matching techniques together with regression adjustment. Full-sample results show voucher receipt to have little effect on neighborhood quality in the short-term, but some positive long-term effects. We also find that voucher receipt is tied to a higher probability of change in household composition in the year of voucher receipt, but greater stability in subsequent years. Our large sample allows us to explore differential responses of geographic and socioeconomic subgroups. Our findings have several implications for both research and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlson, Deven & Haveman, Robert & Kaplan, Thomas & Wolfe, Barbara, 2012. "Long-term effects of public low-income housing vouchers on neighborhood quality and household composition," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 101-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:21:y:2012:i:2:p:101-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2012.04.004
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    2. Robert Collinson & Ingrid Gould Ellen & Jens Ludwig, 2015. "Low-Income Housing Policy," NBER Chapters, in: Economics of Means-Tested Transfer Programs in the United States, Volume 2, pages 59-126, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Carlson, Deven & Miller, Hannah & Haveman, Robert & Kang, Sohyun & Schmidt, Alex & Wolfe, Barbara, 2019. "The effect of housing assistance on student achievement: Evidence from Wisconsin," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 61-73.
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    5. Qiu, Feng & Tong, Qingmeng, 2021. "A spatial difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the impact of light rail transit on property values," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
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    7. Eerola, Essi & Saarimaa, Tuukka, 2015. "Who Benefits from Public Housing?," Working Papers 68, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    8. Ning Zhang, 2022. "In-kind housing transfers and labor supply: a structural approach," Economics Series Working Papers 992, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    9. Céline Grislain-Letrémy & Corentin Trevien, 2022. "The Long-Term Impact of Housing Subsidies on the Rental Sector: the French Example," Working papers 886, Banque de France.
    10. Rebecca J. Walter & Ruoniu Wang, 2016. "Searching for Affordability and Opportunity: A Framework for the Housing Choice Voucher Program," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4-5), pages 670-691, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    I30; I38; Housing vouchers; Neighborhood quality; Household composition; Matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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