DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/WB1Z-JV81

Defense Date

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Urban & Regional Planning

Department

Urban Studies & Planning

First Advisor

Dr. Michela M. Zonta

Abstract

In 1997 the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority received a HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $26.9 million to revitalize the Blackwell scattered site public housing community. The mixed income approach of HOPE VI calls for a reduction of public housing units, thus requiring all households to relocate to other neighborhoods. This research analyzed socioeconomic data to examine the relocation of households, assess whether they moved to better neighborhoods, and compare them to other poor households. Over half of all households moved to other distressed neighborhoods in the Northside, East End, and Southside sections of Richmond. While voucher households moved to better neighborhoods, public housing households appeared to move to neighborhoods of similar and worse quality than Blackwell. Overall, relocated households moved to less stable communities than other poor households. Research suggests that a regional approach is needed to open suburban housing options to low-income families in order to effectively deconcentrate poverty.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

June 2008

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