Public housing relocations in Atlanta: Documenting residents’ attitudes, concerns and experiences

This paper describes the desire to move, concerns of residents being involuntarily relocated from Atlanta’s public housing, and their post-relocation experiences. Using a residential mobility framework, we examined the correlates of desiring to move or desiring to renovate public housing as a function of hard-to-house characteristics, mobility characteristics, and concerns about relocating. Findings indicated that family public-housing residents were more likely to view relocation as an opportunity to improve their lives. Residents of the senior/disabled high-rise buildings were less likely to view relocation as an opportunity. Age was inversely related to wanting to move. Neighborhood satisfaction was associated with wanting to renovate public housing and not relocate. Transportation to see doctors was the primary concern associated with not wanting to relocate. Post-relocation findings demonstrate a significant degree of satisfaction among residents, improved financial situations, and declines in social support.

► We examined public housing residents’ desire to move or renovate public housing.
► Senior/disabled high-rise residents preferred to renovate.
► Transportation to see doctors motivated desire to renovate.
► Post-relocation finds significant amount of neighborhood satisfaction.
► Residents reported improved financial situation but declines in social support post-relocation.