CLPHA was proud to sponsor the 9th National Conference on Housing Mobility, held last week in Washington, D.C. Nearly 150 public and affordable housing leaders, researchers, and policymakers gathered to share best practices, innovations, new research, and policy prescriptions for housing mobility programs across the country. CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman opened the conference with remarks welcoming attendees and reiterating CLPHA’s commitment to championing investments in housing mobility.
A highlight was the conference’s keynote remarks from famed researcher Dr. Raj Chetty, director of Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights think tank. Dr. Chetty reviewed his groundbreaking research on the impacts of moving from low- to high-opportunity areas on low-income families, demonstrating through data how expanding access to more affluent neighborhoods can help improve economic outcomes for voucher holders, and especially for their children. Dr. Chetty also previewed his latest, yet-unpublished research on the impact of HOPE-VI on the earnings of adults who spent their childhoods in the program.
From left: Gerard Holder, CLPHA; Sunia Zaterman, CLPHA; Dr. Raj Chetty, Opportunity Insights; Sarah Oppenheimer, Opportunity Insights
Two CLPHA members, INLIVIAN and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, presented on their mobility initiatives. INLIVIAN discussed how, thanks in part to their advocacy, Charlotte’s city council voted in 2022 to ban source of income discrimination for properties receiving city funding – a policy victory that greatly helps to expand housing choice INLIVIAN’s voucher holders. CMHA updated attendees on the progress of their mobility program under HUD’s Community Choice Demonstration, noting that over 300 low-income Cleveland families have signed up for the pilot.
CLPHA thanks our cohosts Mobility Works, the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), and the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for putting together a wonderful, insightful conference!