It has long been assumed by politicians, and others, that homeowners are more likely to invest in contributing to the well-being of their neighborhoods than renters. A new report seems to support those assumptions.
Matt Bevilacqua discusses the findings contained in a study to be published in next month's issue of the Urban Affairs Review that examines whether homeownership really does encourage civic engagement. "Looking at data collected from a group low- and mid-income
homeowners and renters over four years, researchers from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill find that owning a home can indeed
inspire someone to get involved with the community - so long as the
ownership is sustained," writes Bevilacqua.
"Policy-wise, the study concludes that measures aimed at increasing
homeownership rates in low-income neighborhoods can help precipitate a
robust civic life, which in turn may bring about a better overall
quality of life. However, beyond simply increasing access to
homeownership, these policies would have to ensure it can be sustained."
FULL STORY: Study Finds Connection Between Homeownership, Mobility and Civic Engagement
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research