Deconcentration of Public Housing

Abstract

Dispersal of public housing from inner-city areas has been advocated widely since passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Using data from a comparative study of eight public-housing developments (four located in inner-city areas and four located outside of the inner city), we provide evidence that deconcentration of public housing provides some benefits for low-income, single-parent households. Compared with inner-city residents, those living in deconcentrated developments were more satisfied with their living environments and less fearful of crime. Deconcentration did not result in social isolation, but it did isolate residents from employment opportunities.