The Impact of Services on Eviction in Subsidized Housing

Background/Purpose:

Access to affordable housing is a challenge for low-income families in the U.S. Currently only about one in four low-income families eligible for housing assistance are able to access affordable housing. As a result, nearly two thirds of low-income households use over 50% of their monthly income on rent. Thus, securing and retaining affordable housing is critical. Research on the impact of housing services in subsidized developments is limited. This study assesses the effect of service use on housing retention among low income households vulnerable to eviction.

Methods:

This study incorporated administrative data collected by Mercy Housing, the third largest non-profit affordable housing provider in the U.S., on households that received a lease violation for late payment of rent during the years 2012-2014. Propensity scores were used to create a matched sample of 1,104 households that either used or did not use housing services. Cox proportional hazard models were then estimated to test the effect of service use on housing retention. Any household that continued residence at Mercy at the end of 2014 was considered to have retained housing. Household demographic characteristics were controlled, while the effects of service use (yes or no) and hours of service were estimated. Mercy Housing divides services into four categories; community participation, financial stability, health & wellness, and housing stability.

Results:

Using services was a significant predictor of retaining housing (HR=.59, p = .001) indicating that households who used services were 41% less likely to lose housing. In the financial stability category of services financial benefit acquisition (HR=.65, p = .02) predicted housing retention, while employment readiness support (HR=1.02, p = .007) predicted increased chances of losing housing. Similarly, both healthcare benefit acquisition (HR=1.06, p = .05) from the health and wellness category and eviction prevention coaching (HR=1.01, p = .02) from the housing stability category predicted increased chances of losing housing. There were no significant services in the community participation category of services.

Conclusions and Implications:

Results demonstrate that services play an important role in keeping vulnerable low-income families housed. Accessing financial benefits helps low income households retain housing, yet the findings that employment assistance, accessing healthcare benefits, and eviction prevention increase chances of losing housing are concerning. One explanation for the counter-intuitive results is that they are a consequence of the most vulnerable households utilizing services.  If low-income households face unemployment or health care issues they may be more financially vulnerable to losing housing. Given the inadequate stock of affordable housing in the U.S., it is imperative that social workers understand how services can keep vulnerable low-income families housed.