The Impacts of Affordable Housing on Education: A Research Summary, a brief by Senior Research Associate Maya Brennan, uncovers a wealth of research suggesting that stable, affordable housing provides children with enhanced opportunities for educational success. The brief reviews literature showing that the supportive and stable home environment encouraged by high-quality, affordable housing often leads to better educational outcomes.

Key Findings

• Stable, affordable housing complements the efforts of educators, leading to better student achievement, reduced absenteeism, and reductions in student turnover rates.
• Affordable housing can reduce the frequency of unwanted moves that disrupt children's education and, in classrooms with high turnover rates, have negative spillover effects on teachers and classmates.
• Housing assistance that reduces concentrated poverty and helps families access neighborhoods of opportunity can improve children's educational achievement, leading to higher test scores and an increased likelihood of completing high school and enrolling in college.