This paper argues that the low-income housing programme in China has so far failed to provide adequate housing for the poor for three main reasons: the central government's failure to define a clear mission; a lack of commitment from local governments; and an exclusionary policy towards migrants. A systematic review of low-income housing policy in China shows that the central government juggles its economic and socio-political goals thereby causing constant changes in low-income housing policy. Meanwhile, the existing public finance system, the performance evaluation system and localization in policy implementation have all resulted in a lack of commitment from local governments to low-income housing. Inadequate provision is made worse by problems with allocation. Despite encouraging changes since 2010, many factors underlying the government's failures remain unchanged, thus the fate of low-income housing remains uncertain.

Low­income Housing in Chinese Cities: Policies and Practices

This article uses a social justice framework to problematize national and local policies in housing and education which propose to reduce poverty and improve educational performance of low‐income students through mixed‐income strategies. Drawing on research on Chicago, the article argues mixed‐income strategies are part of the neoliberal restructuring of cities which has at its nexus capital accumulation and racial containment and exclusion through gentrification, de‐democratization and privatization of public institutions, and displacement of low‐income people of color. The ideological basis for these policies lies in racialized cultural deficit theories that negate the cultural and intellectual strengths and undermine the self‐determination of low‐income communities of color. Neoliberal mixed‐income policies are unlikely to reduce inequality in education and housing. They fail to address root causes of poverty and unequal opportunity to learn and may exacerbate spatial exclusion and marginalization of p...

Mixed‐income schools and housing: advancing the neoliberal urban agenda

Problem: Federal housing policy is made up of disparate programs that a) promote homeownership; b) assist low-income renters’ access to good-quality, affordable housing; and c) enforce the Fair Housing Act by combating residential discrimination. Some of these programs are ineffective, others have drifted from their initial purpose, and none are well coordinated with each other. Purpose: We examine the trends, summarize the research evaluating the performance of these programs, and suggest steps to make them more effective and connected to each other. Methods: We review the history of housing policy and programs and empirical studies of program effectiveness to identify a set of best principles and practices. Results and conclusions: In the area of homeownership, we recommend that the federal government help the nation's housing markets quickly find bottom, privatize aspects of the secondary mortgage market, and move to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction and replace it with a 10-year homeownership ...

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Rethinking Federal Housing Policy

China is experiencing an unprecedented urban revolution, with massive rural-to-urban migration. Owing to the discriminatory hukou system, millions of migrants are excluded from accessing subsidized housing and suffer severe housing poverty. How to provide decent and affordable housing to migrants is an unprecedented challenge in China. In this paper we aim to scrutinize the current migrant housing provision system and migrants' housing conditions, and provide policy recommendations for a theoretically informed and empirically grounded migrant housing provision system. On the basis of both a conceptual analysis of migrant housing provision during rapid urbanization and an empirical study of migrant housing provision in China, we argue for a government-led multiagent migrant housing provision system with the government, employers, and the formal and informal housing markets together providing a diverse stock of migrant housing. Related reforms in the land system and public finance system are recommended to ...

Housing migrants in Chinese cities: current status and policy design

Policy-makers in several countries are turning to income- and tenure-mixing strategies in an attempt to reverse decades of social and economic isolation in impoverished urban areas. In the US city of Chicago, all high-rise public housing developments across the city are being demolished, public housing residents are being dispersed throughout the metropolitan area and 10 new mixed-income developments are being created on the footprint of former public housing complexes. Findings are presented from in-depth interviews with residents across income levels and tenures at two mixed-income developments and the paper explores residents’ perceptions of the physical, psychological and social impacts of the mixed-income setting on their lives.

Living in a mixed-income development: resident perceptions of the benefits and disadvantages of two developments in Chicago.

While the growing literature on HOPE VI emphasizes the presumed benefits of income mixing these benefits are most likely to occur if middle-income families with children are drawn to these sites. B...

Attracting Middle‐Income Families in the Hope VI Public Housing Revitalization Program

Housing Policy in the United States: An Introduction

Linking housing and public schools in the hope vi public housing revitalization program

This research examines the linkage between housing and public schools in the HOPE VI Housing Revitalization Program by: (1) examining the extent to which HOPE VI efforts are aimed at improving local public schools to attract children from middle class households and (2) analyzing the extent to which these programs are achieving this objective.

Linking Housing and Public Schools in the HOPE VI Public Housing Revitalization Program: A Case Study Analysis of Four Developments in Four Cities

Revival is happening in America’s cities and it is no longer restricted to the hot coastal markets. Millennials have embraced urban living and are moving to cities like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleve...

Stephanie Sweeney

Papers

Attracting Middle‐Income Families in the Hope VI Public Housing Revitalization Program

Housing Policy in the United States: An Introduction

Linking housing and public schools in the hope vi public housing revitalization program

Linking Housing and Public Schools in the HOPE VI Public Housing Revitalization Program: A Case Study Analysis of Four Developments in Four Cities

The divided city: Poverty and prosperity in urban America, by Allan Mallach