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Why Affordable HousingIs Good for Students
and Schools
Leckey Forum
October 14, 2011
Maya Brennan
Center for Housing Policy
How does housing affect children’s education?
2
Frequent or unwanted moves hinder children’s education• Frequent or involuntary residential moves may
increase absenteeism, grade retention, and behavior problems
• School changes are also associated with reduced achievement and higher drop-out rates
• Effects are more harmful if school changes are frequent, occur in the first 2 years of school, or involve children with existing disadvantages
Stability & Affordability
3
Affordable housing can improve stability
• Families who get a housing voucher move less than similar low-income families Nearly one full move is avoided over 4 to
5 years Or 1.3 fewer moves if they were able to
use the voucher where they already lived
• Those who lose a housing subsidy have more than ten times the risk of moving neighborhoods than their peers
4
Affordable housing reduces the need for overcrowding
Overcrowding is associated with:
• Lower math and reading scores
• Fewer years of education completed
• Lower high school graduation rates
• Lack of task persistence
Negative effects are found even among those with cultural preferences for more crowded conditions
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Neighborhoods of opportunity can improve educational outcomes
• Low-income children who move from the inner-city to the suburbs may be more likely to:• enroll in college prep classes• graduate high school• enroll in college
• Effects may be due to changes in school quality
• Montgomery County research suggests stability plus access to quality, low-poverty schools can reduce achievement gap
Location & Neighborhood 6
Co-location of housing & education programs can improve kids’ outcomes
• Housing-based out-of-school-time programs can increase educational supports for children• Increased school attendance• Improved work habits• Stronger task persistence• Denver study found 75% of participating children
increased reading skills by at least a grade level
• Revitalization efforts can also pair affordable housing with new or improved schools
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Housing quality affects children’s ability to succeed in school
• Lead paint exposure in older homes leads to long-term developmental and educational problems
• Substandard housing can lead to or exacerbate health problems, such as asthma and allergies
• Asthma is associated with absenteeism, with more severe cases leading to more absences
Quality8
Summary: What does a lack of affordable, stable, quality housing mean for kids’ education?
• Lower performance and test scores
• Grade retention
• Higher drop-out rates
• More absenteeism
• More behavior problems
• Less task persistence
9
Affordable housing has a positive ripple effect for schools
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What does housing instability mean for teachers and classmates?High rates of student mobility:
• Drain school resources
• Prevent teachers from gauging their effectiveness
• Require review-oriented lesson plans
• Lead to curriculums up to a year behind stable schools by fifth grade
11
Forget the numbers – Show that affordable housing matters
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And show that affordable housing fits in your community
Chatham Square – Alexandria, VA
Westcott Ridge – Fairfax, VA
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Questions?
Maya Brennan
Senior Research Associate
Center for Housing Policy
Phone: 202.466.2121 x229
Email: [email protected]
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