Abt to Evaluate Landlord Biases, Programmatic Challenges in HUD Housing Voucher Program
Rockville, Md. – HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is an important subsidy program that helps families and individuals choose affordable housing that meets their needs. However, the HCV program only works if the owners of private rental housing make their units available to voucher holders. Due to biases and administrative challenges, some landlords refuse to participate in the program. With fewer landlords participating in the HCV program, HUD developed the Moving to Work (MtW) Landlord Incentives demonstration to test whether incentives can increase landlord acceptance of vouchers. HUD has engaged Abt Associates to evaluate whether the incentives are successful in a five-year, $3.85 million contract.
The MtW Landlord Incentives Evaluation will use a randomized control trial and a quasi-experimental design comparison to assess incentives’ impacts on landlord acceptance of housing choice vouchers. The study also will include a large qualitative component to understand the mechanisms that drive successful landlord incentives, and a participatory component that engages HCV residents directly in order to inform the study design and the interpretation of findings.
“This is a great opportunity to evaluate the impacts of changes to program design on the HCV’s program success,” said project director Meryl Finkel, Ph.D., a principal associate at Abt.
About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is a global consulting and research firm that uses data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people’s lives. From combatting infectious disease and conducting rigorous program evaluations, to ensuring safe drinking water and promoting access to affordable housing—and more—we partner with clients and communities to tackle their most complex challenges. https://www.abtassociates.com
Contact:
Eric Tischler
eric_tischler@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5492
