Dr. Anna Santiago and co-principal investigator George C. Galster have received renewal funding for the Denver Housing Study. The research addresses how low-income households receiving housing assistance can be best assisted to build financial, human and social capital and attain and maintain homeownership. The primary purpose of the original research funded by the Ford Foundation 2001-2008 was to increase understanding about the ways in which participation in an innovative Denver public housing authority (DHA)-sponsored homeownership program (HOP), and subsequent ownership of a home, fostered the acquisition of human, financial and social capital assets of adults and children living in low-income households. The proposed research during the renewal grant builds upon what has been learned and what data the investigators have gathered to address questions that have arisen during the course of the initial grant.
In particular, the proposed extension will consist of four interrelated analyses:

1) Impact Analysis of HOP
2) Impact Analysis of Homeownership
3) Benefit-Cost Analysis of HOP
4) Appreciation/Foreclosure Analysis

The goal of these proposed analyses is to evaluate rigorously the multidimensional value of homeownership to low-income households and the efficacy of an innovative program to increase such homeownership opportunities. The research will aid in the development of more effective homeownership and asset building programs for low-income households.