Factors predicting residential mobility among the recipients of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the largest low-income federal housing program in the Unites States and has a policy goal of promoting mobility or “choice.” This study explored the factors that predict residential mobility among the recipients of the HCV program in Columbus, Ohio by including variables found to predict mobility among the general population and two new variables that are specific to the HCV program: total tenant payment (TTP); and fair market rent (FMR). Although the findings revealed that race, gender, age and number in family were significant in predicting residential mobility, the variables affected by the housing market and the program’s policies and budgets (increase in TTP and increase or decrease in FMR) were more significant in predicting mobility. The findings indicate that residential mobility among HCV recipients had more to do with changes in the housing market and the program’s policies and budgets than individual characteristics.