by Allon Yaroni, senior research associate

Rates of housing foreclosure throughout the United States have more than doubled since 2006, and the effect on individuals and communities—especially minority and immigrant neighborhoods—has been clear and often devastating. Concentrated foreclosures contribute to the appearance of blighted neighborhoods and make surrounding homes less desirable. Vacant properties become common sites of accidental fires and arson and are likely to be used for criminal activity. With city governments spending up to $34,000 per property on foreclosed and abandoned buildings, less revenue is available for needed local services such as sanitation and law enforcement. In response to these issues, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, and Wildcat Service Corporation—with support from the Open Society Institute’s Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative—launched pilot projects in Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and New York City to help stabilize communities affected by high concentrations of housing foreclosure. While aiming to improve neighborhood conditions, the pilot projects provide transitional employment and training to unemployed and underemployed individuals.

The Open Society Institute has asked Vera researchers to explore options and approaches for evaluating the impact of the pilots on their targeted communities. The pilot programs vary in structure and approach, which presents a challenge to researchers as they analyze and try to understand multiple program models across different locations. During the planning phase, Vera researchers will assess the feasibility of comparing intervention strategies such as neighborhood beautification and housing deconstruction, and differences in approaches to leveraging local partnerships and funding. This evaluation may allow researchers to later explore connections between foreclosure, community attachment, and crime in the targeted neighborhoods.

For more information, contact Allon Yaroni at ayaroni@vera.org.

This story appeared in issue 1 of Vera's Research Newsletter.