New Homes and Poor People, 1966-1967

This study focused on the indirect consequences of new housing construction by examining the sequences of moves triggered by first-time occupancies of new homes. In particular, the investigation attempted to ascertain whether the construction of new, relatively expensive housing might indirectly benefit low-income people or African Americans who could not afford to purchase these new houses but would be able to move into vacancies created farther along the chain. Interviews were first conducted with a representative sample of first-time inhabitants of newly-built homes, and then with the families that moved into the dwellings left vacant. Wherever possible, each chain of moves was followed to its logical conclusion. Demographic information includes age, sex, and education of family head, race of respondent, family life cycle, and family income.