Choice and Opportunity: Housing Relocation, Neighborhood Change, and Family Well-Being in the South City Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Memphis, TN

Abstract

Mixed-income development initiatives target distressed public housing for redevelopment and provide support to low-income families. These initiatives involve an involuntary move for families living in the sites targeted for redevelopment. The objectives of this study were to examine housing relocation, neighborhood change, and family well-being among families (n = 383) affected by the South City Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Memphis, Tennessee, using longitudinal administrative records merged with census data. Regression analysis and multilevel mixed-effects modeling were utilized to examine quality of life outcomes (e.g., perceived home safety, neighborhood safety, stress). Families who moved out of the CNI zip code improved their neighborhood quality compared to families who stayed. All families experienced improvements to home safety and neighborhood safety, but also experienced increased stress irrespective of decisions to leave or stay in the CNI zip code. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.