This week, MHP Connect features new studies on housing instability and children, housing needs among people with disabilities, and three new national resources for rental preservation and advocacy.
The Effects of Housing Instability and Mobility on Children 
A new research brief examines the relationships between income, residential moves, and outcomes for kids. The paper, by The Center for Housing Policy, finds that in general, low-income families are more likely to experience disruptive moves than other families. These moves can have detrimental impacts on children’s education and health. The authors therefore suggest that community initiatives consider strategies to ensure that families and children can continue to benefit from investments in them, even when they move beyond neighborhood boundaries. The report reviews three existing studies plus commissions a special tabulation of American Housing Survey data.
Disability among Households with Worst Case Housing Needs
In general, renter households that include an adult or child with a disability are more likely than other renter households to face a severe rent burden (34% vs. 24%), severely inadequate housing (4% vs. 3%), and/or crowding (5% vs. 4%), according to a new HUD report. This year, for the first time, a supplemental HUD report covering “worst case” housing needs highlights data for people with disabilities in the US. The report also finds that households with a disabled member are much more likely to have very low incomes than counterpart households without disabilities, but are more likely to benefit from rental assistance. This finding suggests that housing assistance has been well-targeted to vulnerable individuals with disabilities. However, worst case housing needs grew for all groups between 2007 and 2009.
Updated! NLIHC’s Rental Housing Profiles for Congressional Districts
The National Low Income Housing Coalition has added new data to snapshots of housing need for congressional districts and states. The profiles feature new data on Section 8 units, inadequate housing, and cost burden for renters. Look for another update in the spring after the 2011 Out of Reach report is released.
State-by-State Fact Sheets on Federal Rental Assistance
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has released a series of fact sheets with data on each of the major federal rental assistance programs and the unmet need for housing assistance. For example, did you know that in Minnesota, federal rental assistance programs enable more than 90,541 low-income households in Minnesota to rent modest housing at an affordable cost, and that 61 percent of these households are headed by people who are elderly or have disabilities? These 1-page fact sheets are packed with useful information, including some program-specific data.
New Affordable Rental Housing Partnership Page
A new affordable rental housing partnerships section on the HUD USER website provides resources and strategies to help preserve affordable rental housing. It highlights innovative partnerships in four key states, including Minnesota, and is meant to assist housing authorities, non-profits, government staff, and others in forming or enhancing collaborative partnerships. Minnesota's Interagency Stabilization Group and Family Housing Fund are mentioned, along with other partners.
