Abstract: Does Low- and Moderate-Income Homeownership Influence the Quality of the Home Environment? (Research that Promotes Sustainability and (re)Builds Strengths (January 15 - 18, 2009))
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10479 Does Low- and Moderate-Income Homeownership Influence the Quality of the Home Environment?

Schedule:
Friday, January 16, 2009: 3:00 PM
Galerie 5 (New Orleans Marriott)
* noted as presenting author
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, PHD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Assistant Professor, Chapel Hill, NC
Jong-Gyu Paik, MSW , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Doctoral Student, Chapel Hill, NC
Johanna K.P. Greeson, MSS, MLSP , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Doctoral Student, Chapel Hill, NC
Pajarita Charles, MSW, MPA , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Doctoral Student, Chapel Hill, NC
Purpose:

Considerable research suggests that homeownership imparts a variety of positive individual, family, neighborhood, and community effects. Yet, much of the research to date has neglected to examine such effects by level of income (Dietz & Haurin, 2003). This study adds to the limited research on the impact of low- and moderate-income homeownership on the quality of the home environment using a unique data set with a rigorous research design.

Methods:

The data for this study come from the 2007 Self-Help Community Advantage Home Loan Secondary Market Program (CAP) panel survey using a quasi-experimental design of low- and moderate-income (LMI) homeowners and a comparison panel of renters.

CAP is a secondary market program developed out of a partnership between the Ford Foundation, Fannie Mae and Self-Help, a leading Community Development Financial Institution. The final analysis sample after listwise deletion is comprised of 934 households with children (684 owners; 250 renters). Quality of the home environment is evaluated using an adapted version of the HOME scale (Bradley & Caldwell, 1984), which assesses the type and frequency of interactions and learning experiences parents provide for their children inside and outside the home. Multiple regression is used to model the influence of homeownership on the quality of the home environment, controlling for a variety of household characteristics.

Results:

Homeownership was associated with a significantly better home environment. Car ownership, income level, and education level were also associated with a significantly better home environment.

Approximately 15% of the variation in the quality of the home environment was explained by tenure.

Implications:

Results suggest that low- and moderate-income homeownership has a positive impact on the type and frequency of interactions and learning experiences parents provide their children both inside and outside the home. Although these results point to homeownership as a strategy for improving the quality of the home environment for working families, other factors emerged as equally important. These include car ownership, income level, and education level. As such, these results corroborate previous studies that suggest homeownership is not a “silver bullet” solution for low- and moderate-income families, and suggest other ways that social workers can intervene to improve well-being. These results also highlight the importance of policy makers needing to consider a wide range of strategies to expand social, educational, and economic opportunities for this subpopulation. Further, the importance of using quasi-experimental and longitudinal designs in social work interventions is discussed.