Entrenched Hybridity in Public Housing Agencies in the USA

Abstract

In this paper, we build on the extant literature on housing social enterprises and hybrid models of public housing delivery. We trace the evolution of US housing policy toward greater hybridity, focusing on three dimensions of hybridity. Drawing from a case study of the Charlotte Housing Authority in North Carolina, we showcase two housing programs, HOPE VI and Moving to Work, in order to highlight current innovations in the provision of housing for low-income populations and the entrenched hybridity that is evident. Using this information, we address two main questions: (1) how do local public housing agencies collaborate with the Federal government, private developers, and non-profit service providers to fund, construct, and manage affordable rental housing? and (2) what are the benefits and challenges of hybrid models of affordable rental housing delivery within the US context?