Study Finds Moving to Low-Poverty Neighborhoods Leads to Greater Well-Being

September 20, 2012 Grantee Publications How Housing Matters Housing
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A coalition of researchers find that moving from a high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhood spurs long-term gains in the physical and mental health of low-income adults. Using data from a MacArthur-supported study, Moving to Opportunity, the paper also finds an improvement in self-reported happiness, despite not improving economic self-sufficiency. With nearly 9 million people living in highly-impoverished neighborhoods, Neighborhood Effects on the Long-Term Well-Being of Low-Income Adults suggests the importance of focusing on improving the well-being of people living in such communities.