The Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation's (PAHRC) new report, How Public Housing Authorities are Addressing Equity, finds that while more than four out of five public housing agencies (PHAs) surveyed have implemented a strategy to help residents achieve successful outcomes, only one in five reported having equity-specific initiatives in place. The study also found that most PHAs want to further their equity initiatives but are constrained by limited resources.
This survey, which CLPHA helped shape, was conducted in March and June of 2022, and examined a cross-section of 83 PHAs across the U.S. The results discuss equity challenges faced by clients who receive housing assistance, the frequency of PHA equity initiatives, staffing and funding capacities, and the barriers that limit PHAs from establishing or expanding equity initiatives. To learn more, read the full report and access PAHRC’s companion guide, offering a menu of strategies PHAs can implement to promote equity.
And be sure to register for PAHRC’s upcoming webinar, Promoting Equity at Your Housing Organization, on Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. ET, which will share big and small strategies that PHA staff can consider implementing to promote equitable outcomes for their residents. A panel discussion featuring Boston Housing Authority's manager of resident capacity programs and researchers from PAHRC will also share the latest research and lessons learned while implementing PHA-led equity initiatives.