Housing abandonment is pervasive in Baltimore city. This study examines the origins of that abandonment by interviewing landlords, property owners, renters, and homeowners who have either divested their real estate portfolio, own abandoned properties, or are maintaining properties in areas with significant levels of abandonment. By understanding what causes landlords to walk away from their once valuable assets, we hope to inform public policy that can reduce divestment in the future.

This longitudinal, mixed methods study of white, black and Latino families in Cleveland and Dallas examines how housing choices intersect with the many challenges low to moderate income families face, and how the inevitable tradeoffs involved in choosing a residence affect child development.

This study capitalizes on a unique housing assistance program to explore whether improvements in housing access translate into gains in educational achievement for poor minority children.

This qualitative study conducts interviews with youth aged 15-24 who moved with the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) program. These interviews focus on education, employment, risky behavior, family formation, and mental health, delving into the rich array of social processes and contextual factors that may underlie differing outcomes for youth and their transition to early adulthood.

This project is a multi-method study of how residential mobility, family structure and schooling are tied together to affect youth outcomes. Overall objectives of the study include: Understanding how housing policy affects mobility and school changes and understanding the conditions under which housing instability is perpetuated.