Program provides resources to Housing Choice Voucher families with children to move to high opportunity areas

DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas announced today that it has launched a program called Children First North Texas that will expand housing choices for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) families with children by increasing access to high-opportunity neighborhoods.

The program is funded by a grant awarded to DHA by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on HUD's Community Choice Demonstration program that builds upon recent research that shows growing up in lower poverty neighborhoods improves children's academic achievement, long-term chances of success and reduces intergenerational poverty. DHA is one of only seven public housing agencies (PHAs) awarded across the country.

Research conducted by Opportunity Insights, a research initiative at Harvard University shows that upward mobility is impacted by where children grow up. Moving within one’s metro area from a below-average to an above-average neighborhood in terms of upward mobility would increase the lifetime earnings of a child growing up in a low-income family by $200,000. (Chetty, R. (2021). Neighborhoods Matter. Opportunity Insights. https://opportunityinsights.org/neighborhoods/)

The Housing Choice Voucher program offers families with vouchers the opportunity to live in a neighborhood of their choice in a private market home. However, families often face barriers when trying to move into high-opportunity neighborhoods. So the program is designed not only to provide family support, but also addresses strategies to increase landlord participation in high-opportunity neighborhoods.

Benefits for families who qualify and opt-in to participate include:

• Financial assistance for security deposits and other moving costs
• A dedicated housing navigator to help them search and apply for housing
• Post-move assistance to provide additional support after their move

There is limited availability of resources for this program. DHA will reach out to Housing Choice Voucher families who qualify directly with information on how to participate.

Participating landlords to who help families with housing in high opportunity areas may access the following benefits:

• Program participation signing bonuses
• Rent guarantees for up to three months
• Vacancy loss payments
• Risk mitigation funds

A high opportunity area is defined as a census tract that has a poverty rate of 10% or lower and the DHA Children First North Texas geographic coverage area includes the following North Texas counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Tarrant.

Landlords interesting in learning more and signing up to participate can connect with the program by visiting: https://dhantx.com/landlords/children-first/.

In an effort to provide an efficient process for administering the program, DHA has developed an automated system and custom-built applications to effectively support families and landlords throughout their participation in the program. DHA will welcome the Inclusive Communities Project (ICP) to its team of dedicated Housing Navigators, bringing valuable expertise in mobility counseling. Additionally, Housing Connector will partner with DHA to engage property owners and further enhance housing choice and access for participating families.

Housing Connector is a nonprofit organization that increases access to housing by solving financial and resident challenges for property owners so they can open doors to more people in the community. Housing Connector also streamlines the housing search experience through its Zillow powered marketplace.

The Inclusive Communities Project is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families achieve economic success by addressing the barriers to affordable housing in high opportunity areas that offer a clear path to good schools, safe neighborhoods, gainful employment, and healthy living environments.

“We appreciate HUD selecting DHA to implement this Mobility Grant program and we are excited to engage with our Housing Choice Voucher families and partner with the landlord community,” said Troy Broussard, president and chief executive officer for DHA. “This program will require a significant effort, so we are grateful to have experienced, dedicated partners in Housing Connector and the Inclusive Communities Project working alongside us to help ensure our families not only find housing in high opportunity areas, but successfully move there for the long-term,” he concluded.

About DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas

DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas provides quality, affordable housing to low-income families and individuals through the effective and efficient administration of housing assistance programs. The agency aims to create opportunities for program participants to achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. DHA provides housing opportunities to ~55,000 people through public housing developments and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. Our mission is to provide affordable, quality housing and access to supportive resources across North Texas. DHA is governed by its Board of Commissioners and administers housing programs funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. DHA is an independent, local government entity that is separate from the Dallas City Housing/Community Services department, which is governed by the City of Dallas. For more information about DHA, please visit www.dhantx.com.

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