Affordable Housing Improves Academic Performance of Children

Based in Los Angeles, SP Investment Fund invests in housing for families and seniors in under-served areas. In operation for more than 25 years, SP Investment Fund has rehabilitated hundreds of units of affordable housing, helping to revitalize neighborhoods across the country. One of the ways affordable housing improves people's living standards is by raising students’ academic performance.

According to a 2012 Census report, over 18 million low-income households in the United States spent more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs, exposing them to housing instability. These households missed rent payments frequently, moved often, and were at risk for homelessness. All these conditions negatively affect the academic performances of children.

Research shows that hyper-mobility decreases student performance with early childhood mobility, in particular, causing poor academic performance beginning in elementary school. The negative effects of moving have been found to be even more severe if children change not only homes but also schools. Research published in the journal Educational Researcher found that changing schools reduced math and reading comprehension in elementary school children, creating the equivalent of a three-to-four-month learning disadvantage.

Affordable housing reduces family moves and their risk of homelessness, creating an optimum environment for children to concentrate on their school work. It also enables families in low-income areas to save more money to buy school supplies or put toward a college fund.