The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $1.5 million in Housing Mobility-Related Services Planning awards to 25 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across 14 states. These funds are intended to help PHAs implement programs that assist families using Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) in finding housing in better-resourced neighborhoods.
“Families deserve to thrive in better-resourced communities where the lasting benefits span future generations – like improved health, educational opportunities, and wealth creation,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “Creating opportunities for families to live in neighborhoods with lower levels of poverty helps them achieve long-term success and reduces intergenerational poverty.”
The program is part of HUD's Community Choice Demonstration initiative, which builds on research indicating that growing up in low-poverty neighborhoods improves children's academic performance, long-term success, and reduces intergenerational poverty. Studies have shown that children who move to these neighborhoods experience lower hospitalization rates, reduced hospital spending, and some improvements in mental health over time. Adults who relocate also see reductions in obesity and diabetes.
“These grants help communities convene a wide range of partners who are all essential to expanding options for families to find homes in neighborhoods of their choosing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Richard J. Monocchio. “We see the tangible benefit of this collaboration when families can assess what is best for them, especially the needs of their children.”
Although the HCV program currently allows families with vouchers to choose their neighborhood, including low-poverty areas, they may still face barriers such as saving enough money for a security deposit, insufficient time to find a unit, landlord reluctance to rent to voucher holders, or limited awareness of neighborhood amenities like high-performing schools.
Award recipients include:
- Mobile Housing Authority (AL): $60,000
- Housing Authority of the City of Montgomery (AL): $60,000
- HA Bessemer (AL): $60,000
- The Housing Authority of the City of Prichard (AL): $60,000
- Wilmington Housing Authority (DE): $60,000
- Housing Authority of the City of St. Petersburg (FL): $60,000
- Housing Authority of the City of Lakeland (FL): $60,000
- HA Boca Raton (FL): $60,000
- Housing Authority of South Bend (IN): $60,000
- Brockton Housing Authority (MA): $60,000
- Housing Authority of Prince Georges County (MD): $60,000
- Detroit Housing Commission (MI): $60,000
- Michigan State Housing Development Authority: $60,000
- Newark Housing Authority (NJ): $60,000
- State of NJ Dept. of Comm. Affairs: $60,000
- Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH): $60,000
- Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH): $60,000
- Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH): $60,000
- Allentown Housing Authority (PA): $60
The total funding awarded amounts to $1.5 million.
