Families with Vouchers Are Underrepresented in Low-Distress Neighborhoods

A recent study published in Cityscape titled “Vouchers and Neighborhood Distress” finds that Housing Choice Vouchers utilized by female-headed families are underrepresented in neighborhoods with low levels of distress and overrepresented in neighborhoods with high levels. The Cityscape journal is published by HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research. The authors suggest that governments have to help voucher holders overcome racial barriers to access low-distress neighborhoods, which are predominantly white or racially integrated.