Creating high-opportunity neighborhoods

Can we bring opportunity to families by revitalizing the neighborhoods in which they live? This question lies at the heart of debates over place-based policy and economic mobility. The HOPE VI program—a $17 billion federal initiative to redevelop distressed public housing into mixed-income communities—offers one of the most ambitious tests of this idea in U.S. history.

Forthcoming research from Opportunity Insights shows that while HOPE VI did not raise incomes for adults living in public housing, it dramatically improved outcomes for children who grew up in these communities: each year of childhood spent in a revitalized neighborhood increased adult earnings by nearly 3%, with lifetime gains far exceeding program costs. These improvements were driven by stronger social connections with higher-income neighbors, underscoring the role of integration—not just bricks and mortar—in expanding opportunity.

Join us on February 2 for a webinar examining these findings and their implications for housing and economic mobility policy. The event will feature a research presentation from Opportunity Insights Director Raj Chetty and Opportunity Insights Research Scientist Matthew Staiger, followed by a panel discussion with leading experts on how this evidence informs our understanding of what works and how to apply learnings to future policy and practice.

Viewers can submit questions by emailing [email protected].