Why Affordable HousingIs Good for Students

and Schools

Leckey Forum

October 14, 2011

Maya Brennan

Center for Housing Policy

How does housing affect children’s education?

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Frequent or unwanted moves hinder children’s education• Frequent or involuntary residential moves may

increase absenteeism, grade retention, and behavior problems

• School changes are also associated with reduced achievement and higher drop-out rates

• Effects are more harmful if school changes are frequent, occur in the first 2 years of school, or involve children with existing disadvantages

Stability & Affordability

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Affordable housing can improve stability

• Families who get a housing voucher move less than similar low-income families Nearly one full move is avoided over 4 to

5 years Or 1.3 fewer moves if they were able to

use the voucher where they already lived

• Those who lose a housing subsidy have more than ten times the risk of moving neighborhoods than their peers

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Affordable housing reduces the need for overcrowding

Overcrowding is associated with:

• Lower math and reading scores

• Fewer years of education completed

• Lower high school graduation rates

• Lack of task persistence

Negative effects are found even among those with cultural preferences for more crowded conditions

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Neighborhoods of opportunity can improve educational outcomes

• Low-income children who move from the inner-city to the suburbs may be more likely to:• enroll in college prep classes• graduate high school• enroll in college

• Effects may be due to changes in school quality

• Montgomery County research suggests stability plus access to quality, low-poverty schools can reduce achievement gap

Location & Neighborhood 6

Co-location of housing & education programs can improve kids’ outcomes

• Housing-based out-of-school-time programs can increase educational supports for children• Increased school attendance• Improved work habits• Stronger task persistence• Denver study found 75% of participating children

increased reading skills by at least a grade level

• Revitalization efforts can also pair affordable housing with new or improved schools

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Housing quality affects children’s ability to succeed in school

• Lead paint exposure in older homes leads to long-term developmental and educational problems

• Substandard housing can lead to or exacerbate health problems, such as asthma and allergies

• Asthma is associated with absenteeism, with more severe cases leading to more absences

Quality8

Summary: What does a lack of affordable, stable, quality housing mean for kids’ education?

• Lower performance and test scores

• Grade retention

• Higher drop-out rates

• More absenteeism

• More behavior problems

• Less task persistence

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Affordable housing has a positive ripple effect for schools

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What does housing instability mean for teachers and classmates?High rates of student mobility:

• Drain school resources

• Prevent teachers from gauging their effectiveness

• Require review-oriented lesson plans

• Lead to curriculums up to a year behind stable schools by fifth grade

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Forget the numbers – Show that affordable housing matters

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And show that affordable housing fits in your community

Chatham Square – Alexandria, VA

Westcott Ridge – Fairfax, VA

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Questions?

Maya Brennan

Senior Research Associate

Center for Housing Policy

Phone: 202.466.2121 x229

Email: mbrennan@nhc.org

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