Wait-List Deferred Residential Mobility

In Simple Words

When a family knows a rental discount coupon may arrive in the near future, they stay in their current apartment longer than usual to avoid moving twice, delaying relocation until the voucher is issued.

Research question

Low-income applicants on housing assistance wait-lists adjust the timing of their residential moves in anticipation of receiving a housing voucher.

Participants

N = 4,187 households (10 percent random subsample of Chicago voucher applicants tracked via national change-of-address registries); Chicago, Illinois.

Study Design

Panel event-study measuring residential move timing relative to the randomized voucher offer quarter.

Results

Applicants postponed moves during the wait-list period and increased moves after receiving a voucher offer, resulting in a statistically insignificant total address difference (0.036 ITT, p > 0.05).

Takeaway

Account for pre-offer mobility delays when analyzing applicant residential turnover and neighborhood stability metrics during housing program wait-list periods.

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