Vouchering out Distressed Subsidized Developments

Abstract

When families are provided with Section 8 vouchers or certificates, with moderate counseling and no program requirements as to where they should move, how far will they move and how successful will the moves be in terms of attaining greater feelings of safety? This article offers some answers to these questions through analysis of the experiences of households relocated from four distressed privately owned subsidized developments in Baltimore, Newport News, Virginia; Kansas City, Missouri; and San Francisco. Even though many of the residents chose to remain in the same area, most improved their situation in terms of safety by moving. The overwhelming majority reported that they felt safer at their new location, noting a lower incidence of crime, better neighbors, less loitering, and better security features. Thus, this article contends that inner-city families need not make long-distance moves toward the suburbs to enhance their sense of security.