Moving families from segregated, high poverty neighborhoods, into desegregated "areas of opportunity" has multiple effects. Housing mobility programs help revitalize communities and improve the physical and mental health of families involved.
Phil Tegeler (Poverty and Race Research Action Council) and Salimah Hankins (American Civil Liberties Union) profile the Baltimore's HUD supported Housing Mobility Program in Shelterforce's latest issue "Are Our Neighborhoods Making Us Sick?"
Housing segregation is widely cited as a cause of racial health disparities, and research supports the hypothesis that these disparities effect vulnerable children in the most severe ways. Reduction in rates of asthma, diabetes, obesity, and mental health conditions in families moving from high-poverty areas into low-poverty neighborhoods (like those in the Baltimore program) is well documented and "the savings to the public health system alone could pay for these moves many times over."
Tegeler and Hankins argue that leaders of housing mobility programs need to share stories about these health improvements with HUD to encourage them to move forward with the mobility agenda. But that won't be enough if civil rights groups are the only advocates at the table. As the authors point out, "we need our colleagues in the community development field to support mobility programs as a necessary complement to building stronger, healthier low- and mixed-income communities."
Thanks to Brittany Stanley
FULL STORY: Prescription for a New Neighborhood

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie