Subsidy Overlaps in Federal Housing Policy

Gregg Colburn, Arthur Acolin and Rebecca Walter

Housing Policy Debate, 2025, vol. 35, issue 3, 384-401

Abstract: There is limited and incomplete empirical evidence that documents the extent of overlap, or layering, between federal housing programs, including supply-side subsidies, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and demand-side rental assistance. Importantly, we know little about how the overlap varies by time, by geography, and in different housing market conditions. This project uses administrative data collected by federal agencies and public housing authorities to describe over time, at the national level, (a) the percentage of rental assistance recipients that reside in LIHTC units, (b) the percentage of LIHTC units that house a tenant who receives rental assistance, and (c) the number of LIHTC developments that include at least one recipient of rental assistance. Key findings are that there is significant overlap in programs and the level of overlap has increased meaningfully over time. From 2006 to 2018, the share of tenant-based rental assistance used in LIHTC units doubled. The article also highlights the changes that are needed to generate a more accurate national picture of the LIHTC program and overlap with other federal housing programs. These results will help inform debates about federal low-income housing policy and how these scarce housing supports are allocated.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/10511482.2024.2347857

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