This dissertation addresses the critical role of landlords in implementing the Housing Choice Voucher program. Housing choice vouchers provide tenant-based rental assistance to low-income families so that they can have greater opportunities to select apartments and locations than under other rental housing assistance programs. Vouchers provide a renter with more location, quality and housing type options than project-based subsidized housing. The program's ability to increase choice depends heavily on the decisions of private landlords to accept voucher tenants. This research examines the factors influencing housing choice voucher acceptance by owners, or their agents, specifically property profitability, owner strategies, and perceived majority tenant prejudices. One previous study attempted to identify the factors that affect landlords' acceptance of vouchers, and was restricted to landlords participating in the voucher program. This dissertation expands our understanding of landlords' decisions to accept voucher tenants in two key ways: empirical modeling of voucher acceptance using a national sample of rental properties; and qualitative studies of landlords within a single market area. This research has implications for improving the future performance of the voucher program and the housing quality of low-income renters. By understanding the factors influencing voucher acceptance, public policy makers can utilize this information and direct their efforts to successfully market the program, expand voucher knowledge, and increase non-participating owners' acceptance of vouchers. Furthermore, policy makers can determine if additional legislation is needed to enhance the protection of voucher holder's rights and maintain the supply of eligible units. Such efforts will enhance the effectiveness of housing agencies and thus, help achieve the goal of providing low-income renters with better housing options. / Ph. D.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28061 |
| Date | 16 July 2008 |
| Creators | Mitchell, Kimberly Jean |
| Contributors | Environmental Design and Planning, Koebel, C. Theodore, Dawkins, Casey J., Stephenson, Max O. Jr., Goss, Rosemary Carucci |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | KimberlyJMitchell.pdf |
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