This article evaluates an experimental public housing self-sufficiency program that encourages home ownership among low-income families. A quasi-experimental design, in combination with focus groups, records review, and key informant interviews, provides data to focus on four questions: (a) Do these programs simply accelerate move-outs for those who would have left without intervention? (b) Are program elements replicable given the importance of the local context in public housing move-outs? (c) How do housing authorities resolve tensions that arise between housing management and social service delivery? (d) What should housing authority response be to those who fail?
Bell, Stephen H., Larry L. Orr, John D. Blomquist, and Glen G. Cain. 1995. Program applicants as a comparison group in evaluating training programs: Theory and a test. Kalamazoo, MI: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
2.
Beverly, Sondra. 1997. How can the poor save? Theory and evidence on savings in low-income households. Working Paper 97-3, Center for Social Development, Washington University in St Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, St Louis.
3.
Blomquist, John D., Ingrid Gould Ellen, and Stephen H. Bell. 1994. Program impacts. Vol. 2 of Operation bootstrap. Washington, DC: Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
4.
Freeman, Lance. 1998. Interpreting the dynamics of public housing: Cultural and rational choice explanations. Housing Policy Debate9: 323-353.
5.
Hungerford, Thomas L.1996. The dynamics of housing assistance spells. Journal of Urban Economics39: 193-208.
6.
Increase in dwelling rental income. 24 C.F.R. 990.116 (2001).
7.
Kleit, Rachel Garshick, and William M. Rohe. Forthcoming. Using public housing to achieve self-sufficiency: An exploratory analysis of success. Housing Studies.
8.
Projected operating income level. 24 C.F.R. 990.109 (b)(iii) (2001).
9.
Rohe, William M.1995. Assisting residents of public housing achieve self-sufficiency: Evaluation of Charlotte’s Gateway Families Program. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research12: 259-276.
10.
Rohe, William M., and Rachel Garshick Kleit. 1997. From dependency to self-sufficiency: An appraisal of the Gateway Transitional Families Program. Housing Policy Debate7: 75-108.
11.
Rohe, William M., and Rachel Garshick Kleit. 1999. Housing, welfare reform, and self-sufficiency: An assessment of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. Housing Policy Debate10: 333-369.
12.
Rosenbaum, Paul R.2002. Observational studies. 2nd ed.New York: Springer-Verlag.
13.
Sahr, Robert. 2003. Inflation factors. http://oregonstate.edu/dept/pol_sci/fac/sahr/sahr.htm (accessed September 23, 2003).
14.
Santiago, Anna M., and George C. Galster. 2003. Moving from public housing to homeownership: Perceived barriers to program participation and success. Unpublished manuscript.
15.
Sard, Barbara. 2001. Outline of how federal housing programs can help provide employment and training opportunities and support services to current and former welfare recipients. Washington, DC: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
16.
Sard, Barbara, and Jeff Lubell. 2000. January 2000 update to the center’s paper on the impact of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 on welfare reform efforts. Washington, DC: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
17.
Sherraden, Michael. 1991. Assets and the poor: A new American welfare policy. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.
18.
Shlay, Anne B.1993. Family self-sufficiency and housing. Housing Policy Debate4: 457-495.
19.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 1988. Project self-sufficiency. Washington, DC: Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
20.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2000a. A picture of subsidized households: Summary of the United States 1998. http://www.huduser.org/datasets/assthsg/statedata98/us.html (accessed August 15, 2000).
21.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2000b. Public housing assessment system management operations scoring process for PHAs with fiscal years ending on or after March 31, 2000. Federal Register65 (125): 40027-31.
22.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2003. Fiscal year 2003 budget summary.”http://www.hud.gov/about/budget/fy03/bugsum.pdf (accessed December 20, 2003).
23.
Vale, Lawrence J.1997. Empathological places: Residents’ ambivalence toward remaining in public housing. Journal of Planning Education and Research16: 159-175.
24.
Wood, Michelle, Gretchen P. Locke, B. Hannah Shulevitz, Diane M. Porcari, Sandra Nolden, and Jean Amendolia. 1999. From welfare to work: Using HUD’s programs to help families in transition. Washington, DC: Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
