Last month, NHC members National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and Public Housing Authority Directors Association (PHADA), in partnership with the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) and Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), released Value of Home, their analysis of the latest data on the need for and value of rental assistance and the impact that assisted housing has on communities. The said goal of this report is to increase focus on housing assistance for people with low incomes.
Key findings from the report include that assisted families are significantly more likely to include children, seniors and disabled individuals, with 41 percent of assisted individuals being children and 50 percent of households headed by an elderly or disabled person. The report shows that recipients of rental assistance report better economic outcomes and greater stability in comparison to low-income unassisted renters, and that the presence of assisted housing in a community has been shown to contribute to economic development and revitalization, and reduce homelessness.
To further the conversation on these findings, PAHRC hosted a Twitter chat on June 23, moderated by Erika Poethig of the Urban Institute. Chatters discussed research demonstrating the growing need for affordable housing and the innovative ways in which housing assistance can serve residents and improve communities. Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions and share their own housing policy research.
Rental housing and assistance has significant impact on low- to moderate-income families and the communities in which they live. Our Policy Symposium last month tackled the ways in which affordable rental housing can be a platform for future success. Rental housing experts discussed ways to determine the most cost-effective approaches to rental housing, ways to replicate and scale strategies and attract funding, and how those solutions improve the lives of residents. A free video recording of the event is available to view on our website.
Learn more about the Value of Home series here.