Making Mobility Work: Understanding Housing Choice Voucher Recipient Preferences and Neighborhood Access in Dallas

Abstract

Background: The housing choice voucher program is the nation's largest federal rental assistance program, providing over 2.2 million units to low-income families nationwide and costing more than $18 billion annually. A primary goal of the program is to provide voucher recipients with the freedom to access the private rental market and move to neighborhoods and housing units of their choice; however, little research exists on what voucher recipients look for and how they go about finding housing after they receive a voucher. Objectives: This thesis provides insights into the neighborhood and housing priorities of voucher recipients in Dallas as well as the obstacles they encounter and the support structures they rely on during their voucher utilization process. Methods: Research was conducted through an online survey administered by the Dallas Housing Authority to voucher recipients who had been issued a voucher by DHA in the past two years. The survey received a total of 116 respondents, though not every respondent chose to answer every question. Survey results were then cross-referenced with ZIP-code data provided by DHA for each respondent. Results: This research found that many top voucher recipient preferences—including respondents’ preferences to reside in safe neighborhoods with good schools that are close to a grocery store—remained consistent regardless of the type of voucher they were issued or where they ultimately used their voucher. It also found that source-of-income discrimination remains a significant barrier to voucher utilization in Dallas, and as a result, many voucher recipients lack sufficient and reliable information for determining where they should look to use their voucher. Regarding overall satisfaction, this research found no correlation between the poverty rate of a respondent’s ZIP code and a respondent’s overall level of satisfaction with where they used their voucher. Conclusions: There is an immediate need for source-of-income protection for voucher recipients, and until this need is met, local governments and housing authorities should take steps to identify and share comprehensive information regarding voucher-accepting properties with voucher recipients. Furthermore, the considerations and preferences of voucher recipients revealed through this thesis should be incorporated into the services offered by organizations such as ICP as well as any court-mandated remedies intended to improve the experiences of housing choice voucher recipients.