Lance Freeman
Columbia University
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation

The living arrangements of public assistance recipients have been a concern of policymakers and researchers alike. Although the effects of welfare on household composition have been studied extensively, relatively little research has examined how housing assistance might relate to household composition. This research explores the relationship between housing assistance and household composition using data from the New York City Housing Vacancy Survey. The results show that household composition is indeed related to the receipt of housing assistance. In particular, married and cohabiting partners are less likely to be recipients of housing assistance, all else being equal.

Household Composition and Housing Assistance: Examining the Link