Innovation in Public Housing: the Moving to Work Demonstration

Posted by University of North Carolina on February 16, 2015

THE CHARLOTTE HOUSING AUTHORITY began participating in the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program, known locally as Moving Forward, in 2007. To measure our program’s progress, CHA contracted with the Center for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A team of UNC-Chapel Hill researchers, led by Dr. William Rohe, carefully designed an evaluation protocol that monitors the implementation, outcomes, and impacts of our many Moving Forward initiatives, which include expanded supportive services, rent reform, and implementation of a work requirement. We also asked CURS to survey programs adopted by other MTW agencies, so that our staff may evaluate them for consideration for possible adoption in Charlotte.

This recently completed report presents activities that the 39 participating housing authorities have adopted using MTW flexibility. While this report does not address the extent to which each new initiative has fulfilled its objectives, it does provide valuable insight into the range of innovations that have been adopted under the MTW program. This report thoroughly documents the history of the MTW program and catalogues the program’s initiatives by its three statutory goals, achieving cost savings, moving families to self-sufficiency, and expanding housing options.

As MTW Agreements are nearing completion and expansion of the program is being considered, we hope that this report can serve as a resource to both agencies and policymakers alike to provide insight into the various MTW initiatives. I am excited to share this report with you and hope that you will find it useful in your work.

https://curs.unc.edu/files/2015/01/The-Moving-to-Work-Demonstration-Center-for-Urban-and-Regional-Studies-Report.pdf