Moving to Opportunity Housing Vouchers

Summary

Moving to Opportunity is one of the most consequential policy RCTs ever conducted. The initial evaluation found limited short-term economic gains for adults but significant health improvements. Long-term follow-up two decades later by Raj Chetty and colleagues revealed that children who moved to lower-poverty neighborhoods at young ages earned substantially more as adults and were more likely to attend college. Older children showed smaller gains. The study launched the modern field of neighborhood effects research and directly influenced housing policy.

Research question

"Does receiving a housing voucher restricted to low-poverty neighborhoods improve long-term outcomes for families?"

Methodology

Result

Mixed

Short-term adult effects modest; children who moved before age 13 showed +31% higher earnings as adults, +16 pp higher college attendance; mental and physical health improvements for adults

Evidence strength

Moderate

Randomized trial; replication status unknown or limited.

Replication status

N/A