Expanding Housing Choice

Why Housing Mobility?

The voucher alone is a subsidy; it doesn’t come with information or access. Families need information about what’s available in unfamiliar neighborhoods as well as tools to overcome barriers to using their voucher.

In researching neighborhoods on their own, many families only hear about available rentals through word of mouth. Others face discrimination from landlords during their search. Mobility programs perform vital dual roles: recruiting and supporting landlords in high-opportunity areas to rent to voucher holders, as well as coaching and advocating on behalf of their tenants.

Housing mobility programs in Baltimore, Dallas, and Chicago have helped thousands of families move from neighborhoods that don’t work for them to safer, economically mixed neighborhoods with high-performing schools, where their children have greater academic success.

Million

2.3 million low-income households are served by the Federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV).

of Households

Only 1 household out of every 4 that qualify for federal rental assistance receives it.

%

of Families

Currently only a little more than half of HCV families live in states or localities that prohibit source of income discrimination.

%

of Black Children

66% of Black children grow up in areas with 20%+ poverty, while true of only 6% of white children.

Support the Mobility Works Participant Leadership Program

Donations made here through the end of the year will go to our new program to develop mobility participant leadership nationally—in policy advocacy, field building, and program direction.