The HOPE VI Program: What about the Residents?

During the 1990s, the federal government dramatically changed its policy on housing the poor. Under the HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) Pro- gram, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development intended to address the concentration of troubled low-income households in public housing by moving away from its reliance on project-based assistance and promoting instead the construction of mixed-income housing and the use of housing subsidies. This article presents important evidence from two systematic, multicity studies on how the original residents of HOPE VI developments have been affected by this radical new approach to public housing. While many residents have clearly benefited, the findings raise critical questions about whether the transformation of public housing will achieve its potential as a powerful force for improving the lives of low-income families.