Why Affordable Housing Is Good for Students and Schools Leckey Forum October 14, 2011 Maya Brennan Center for Housing Policy

How does housing affect children’s education? Reduces unwanted moves & other major disruptions Reduces the need for overcrowding Can improve parental engagement Stability & Affordability Can pair housing with strong schools or out-of- school-time programs Provides access to high-quality, low-poverty schools Location & Neighborhood Prevents cognitive damage from neurotoxins (i.e., lead) Reduces absenteeism from housing-related asthma Quality 2

Frequent or unwanted moves hinder children’s education Frequent or involuntary residential moves may increase absenteeism, grade retention, and behavior problems School changes are also associated with reduced achievement and higher drop-out rates Effects are more harmful if school changes are frequent, occur in the first 2 years of school, or involve children with existing disadvantages Stability & Affordability 3

Affordable housing can improve stability Families who get a housing voucher move less than similar low-income families Nearly one full move is avoided over 4 to 5 years Or 1.3 fewer moves if they were able to use the voucher where they already lived Those who lose a housing subsidy have more than ten times the risk of moving neighborhoods than their peers 4

Affordable housing reduces the need for overcrowding Overcrowding is associated with: Lower math and reading scores Fewer years of education completed Lower high school graduation rates Lack of task persistence Negative effects are found even among those with cultural preferences for more crowded conditions 5

Neighborhoods of opportunity can improve educational outcomes Low-income children who move from the inner-city to the suburbs may be more likely to: enroll in college prep classes graduate high school enroll in college Effects may be due to changes in school quality Montgomery County research suggests stability plus access to quality, low-poverty schools can reduce achievement gap Location & Neighborhood 6

Co-location of housing & education programs can improve kids’ outcomes Housing-based out-of-school-time programs can increase educational supports for children Increased school attendance Improved work habits Stronger task persistence Denver study found 75% of participating children increased reading skills by at least a grade level Revitalization efforts can also pair affordable housing with new or improved schools 7

Housing quality affects children’s ability to succeed in school Lead paint exposure in older homes leads to long- term developmental and educational problems Substandard housing can lead to or exacerbate health problems, such as asthma and allergies Asthma is associated with absenteeism, with more severe cases leading to more absences Quality 8

Summary: What does a lack of affordable, stable, quality housing mean for kids’ education? Lower performance and test scores Grade retention Higher drop-out rates More absenteeism More behavior problems Less task persistence 9

Affordable housing has a positive ripple effect for schools Fewer moves during the school yearReduces classroom turnoverReduces the need for review-oriented teaching Reduces stress on teachers & improves learning environment for all students in the classroom 10

What does housing instability mean for teachers and classmates? High rates of student mobility: Drain school resources Prevent teachers from gauging their effectiveness Require review-oriented lesson plans Lead to curriculums up to a year behind stable schools by fifth grade 11

Forget the numbers – Show that affordable housing matters 12

And show that affordable housing fits in your community Chatham Square – Alexandria, VA Westcott Ridge – Fairfax, VA 13

Questions? Maya Brennan Senior Research Associate Center for Housing Policy Phone: x