Who applies for Housing Choice Vouchers? Evidence from Los Angeles
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24237254 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lizhong Liu (0000-0003-2244-289X, University of Southern California), Jeffrey Rosen (0000-0003-1933-4820, Rutgers University Camden), Soledad De Gregorio (0000-0001-7618-8052, Abt Global (United States)), Sean Angst (0000-0001-9600-2382, California State University System), Vincent J Reina (0000-0001-7638-0079, University of Pennsylvania) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication date | 2026-10-19 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Urban Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0735-2166 • E-ISSN: 1467-9906 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/07352166.2026.2712977 |
| OpenAlex | W7222981677 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
The Housing Choice Voucher program is the largest subsidy program in the United States, assisting over 2.3 million households nationally. While extensive research has studied housing vouchers, existing studies focus on only part of the administrative process—after households are offered a voucher. Leveraging data from a door-to-door survey in Los Angeles, this study analyzes the factors that shape whether households apply for the program. We find that households who have experienced more financial and housing challenges were more likely to apply to the voucher lottery. Additionally, Hispanic residents were significantly less likely to apply for the voucher lottery even after controlling for language barriers, socioeconomic characteristics, and housing-related experiences. We also find that the most common reason for not applying was their lack of information, potentially due to weak social connections. Altogether, this research shows how the voucher application process can effectively constitute a first-order screening into the voucher program, which has important implications for studying downstream impacts of the program.
housing assistance eligibility · housing choice vouchers · Los Angeles · Low income housing · Section 8 housing assistance · Housing Market and Economics · School Choice and Performance · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies
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The Take Up of Social Benefits
Behavioral Economics and Marketing in Aid of Decision Making among the Poor
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Failing the Least Advantaged
Rental Affordability, Coping Strategies, and Impacts in Diverse Immigrant Communities
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Network Effects and Social Inequality
| Highly cited | No |
|---|