Linking public housing, employment, and disability benefits for working-age people with disabilities

Abstract

Since the 1990s, US housing policy has emphasized increasing the economic self-sufficiency of assisted households. However, an estimated 41% of working-age public housing tenants have a disability, and many participate in multiple public benefit programs. We explore this policy dilemma by asking: (1) do levels of employment vary between people with disabilities who are and who are not residing in public housing, and (2) do the types of disabilities vary by those who are and who are not residing in public housing? We also consider whether or not answers vary based on household receipt of public disability benefits. Results from the Current Population Survey suggest that working-age people with disabilities who live in public housing but do not receive disability program benefits are significantly less likely to be employed than disabled non-beneficiaries who do not reside in public housing. No differences in employment levels are noted between Social Security disability program participants who do and do not live in public housing. Some significant differences in types of disabilities were noted among disability program participants who do and do not reside in public housing. We discuss policy implications and suggestions for further research.

Keywords:

• public housing
• employment
• disability

Notes

1. These rates do not match the data presented in Table 2, as the denominator for these calculations includes all persons, not just those who reported a disability.

Additional information

Funding

A portion of the work on this project was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research under cooperative agreement H133B130015. The findings and conclusions are those of the authors and do not represent the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services. The authors retain sole responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Notes on contributors

Debra L. Brucker

Dr Brucker is a researcher at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. Her research explores the economic, health and social well-being of persons with disabilities.

Corianne Payton Scally

Dr Scally researches affordable rental housing policy and implementation. She is a Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, and a former Associate Professor of Urban Planning.