More than a sixth of the United States population lives in an area of concentrated poverty (ACP) – regions identified through census data as having persistently high levels of poverty, little economic opportunity and disproportionately high housing costs. When compared with economically vibrant areas, recent studies show that community amenities and quality of public education are lower, and overall health and well-being are less favorable in ACPs.

Many of our nation’s ACPs are in the midst of economic revitalization, which can benefit the community as long as affordable housing is not lost in the process. In this report, we look at four properties in different ACPs to understand how they can further residential economic diversity and economic opportunity for residents, and what replicable policy and financing tools are used to foster their creation or preservation. Read the report.

 

Colorful map of the northern east coast