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Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lowell, W; Smith, I
Published in: Urban Affairs Review
September 1, 2023

Public housing redevelopment is associated with the gentrification of neighborhoods. However, the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), the largest redevelopment program in the U.S. to date, encourages preservation and introduces tenant protections that potentially limit gentrification-related displacement. In the first nationwide study of RAD's impact on neighborhoods, we linked administrative housing data with the American Community Survey and conducted difference-in-differences analyses of 1,141 neighborhoods across the U.S. to ask if RAD has induced changes associated with gentrification. We find that neighborhoods with redevelopment experienced larger gains in middle-class residents and larger losses in very low-income residents compared to similar, untreated neighborhoods. Neighborhoods with RAD also saw larger increases in rental housing costs, and these increases were largest in neighborhoods where redevelopment was extensive. These findings suggest that RAD contributes to gentrification. We use these findings to argue that policymakers must consider the housing stability of public housing's neighbors when planning redevelopment.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Urban Affairs Review

DOI

EISSN

1552-8332

ISSN

1078-0874

Publication Date

September 1, 2023

Volume

59

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1626 / 1664

Related Subject Headings

  • Urban & Regional Planning
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4406 Human geography
  • 3304 Urban and regional planning
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1604 Human Geography
  • 1205 Urban and Regional Planning
 

Citation

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Lowell, W., & Smith, I. (2023). Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification. Urban Affairs Review, 59(5), 1626–1664. https://doi.org/10.1177/10780874221109453
Lowell, W., and I. Smith. “Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification.” Urban Affairs Review 59, no. 5 (September 1, 2023): 1626–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/10780874221109453.
Lowell W, Smith I. Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification. Urban Affairs Review. 2023 Sep 1;59(5):1626–64.
Lowell, W., and I. Smith. “Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification.” Urban Affairs Review, vol. 59, no. 5, Sept. 2023, pp. 1626–64. Scopus, doi:10.1177/10780874221109453.
Lowell W, Smith I. Wealthier Neighbors and Higher Rents: The Rental Assistance Demonstration and Gentrification. Urban Affairs Review. 2023 Sep 1;59(5):1626–1664.
Journal cover image

Published In

Urban Affairs Review

DOI

EISSN

1552-8332

ISSN

1078-0874

Publication Date

September 1, 2023

Volume

59

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1626 / 1664

Related Subject Headings

  • Urban & Regional Planning
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4406 Human geography
  • 3304 Urban and regional planning
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1604 Human Geography
  • 1205 Urban and Regional Planning