Housing policy and poverty in Springfield

Marques Benton, Lynn E. Browne, Sol Carbonell, Prabal Chakrabarti, DeAnna Green, Yolanda Kodrzycki, Ana Patricia Munoz, Anna Steiger, Richard Walker and Bo Zhao

No 2011-1, Public and Community Affairs Discussion Papers from Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Abstract: This essay considers whether housing policies may have contributed to the concentration of poverty in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts ? a question that emerged in conversations with local leaders. Springfield is not alone in having large numbers of lower income households living downtown. This pattern is common in American cities. Recent research emphasizes the role of public transportation in causing lower income households to live closer to downtown. However, spillover effects and government policies, including housing policies, have reinforced this tendency. The essay reviews federal housing policy, with a focus on Springfield. A dilemma for Springfield today is that housing and community development policies and resources tend to reflect the needs of communities with strong housing markets where preserving affordable housing is critical. In Springfield, with a much weaker housing market, these policies may perpetuate the status quo. A higher priority for Springfield is attracting a more economically diverse population.

Keywords: Housing policy; Housing policy - Massachusetts; Poverty - Massachusetts; Transportation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
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