How to raise a low-income kid’s future earnings by 50 percent

Revitalizing public housing projects can have a profound impact on the future earnings of low-income children. A study by Harvard economist Raj Chetty and his team found that children who grew up in newly rebuilt HOPE VI neighborhoods were 17% more likely to attend college, and boys were 20% less likely to become incarcerated.

The researchers discovered that these benefits were largely due to the cross-class integration of children in these new neighborhoods. Low-income kids formed friendships with higher-income peers, which greatly benefited their future earnings. The study's findings validate long-held critiques of mid-century public housing designs, which often isolated poor families from surrounding communities and reinforced social segregation.

The design of public housing can have a significant impact on the lives of its residents. HOPE VI projects, which were built to replace distressed public housing buildings with new mixed-income developments, demonstrated that well-designed neighborhoods can improve outcomes for low-income children. In contrast, the original public housing projects were often isolated and stigmatized, contributing to social isolation and increased crime rates.

The study's findings offer a blueprint for building cities that enable social connection and shared prosperity among diverse communities. By integrating public housing into the street fabric and promoting cross-class living, we can help low-income children access better educational and economic opportunities.

While the cost of HOPE VI was significant, the economic gains to the children who grew up in these new neighborhoods greatly exceed the costs to taxpayers. As we continue to grapple with class segregation and poor urban planning, it is essential that we learn from the lessons of HOPE VI and strive to create more inclusive and equitable communities for all.

just saw this study by Harvard economist Raj Chetty and I'm totally blown away! Did you know that kids in newly rebuilt HOPE VI neighborhoods are 17% more likely to attend college ? And low-income boys are even less likely to get incarcerated - 20%! It's all about cross-class integration, folks! Those friendships formed between rich and poor kids have a huge impact on future earnings. I mean, it's no wonder mid-century public housing designs were all about isolating poor families from the rest of society... it was like creating a bubble around poverty . The new HOPE VI projects are a game-changer - they're designed to promote social connection and shared prosperity in diverse communities. And get this - the economic gains far outweigh the costs! According to the study, kids who grew up in these neighborhoods earned an average of $22,000 more than those from similar areas without HOPE VI . That's what I call a smart investment in our future!

I just saw this thread about HOPE VI and I gotta say, it's crazy how much impact well-designed public housing can have on kids from low-income backgrounds . I mean, 17% less chance of ending up in the clink? That's huge! It's like, we're so focused on building these super-expensive homes for wealthy folks that we forget about the people who need it most .

I remember reading about HOPE VI when they first came out and thinking it was a great idea. I was skeptical at first, but this study just reinforces what I knew all along – mixing it up with different income groups is key . It's not just about building homes, it's about creating communities that uplift each other.

It's wild to think about how much of our tax dollars are being wasted on stuff we don't really need when there are programs like HOPE VI that can make such a real difference in people's lives . We should be investing more in projects like this, not less

I'm so down for revitalizing public housing projects! It's crazy how much of a difference it can make in low-income kids' future earnings. I mean, 17% more likely to attend college? That's some serious momentum! And the fact that cross-class integration is key is just genius. We gotta get rid of those old design flaws that kept poor families isolated from the rest of the community.

It's all about creating these inclusive neighborhoods where everyone can thrive together. I love how HOPE VI projects showed us that it's possible to build better communities with a mix of income levels. And let's be real, the economic benefits far outweigh the costs. We gotta prioritize our kids' education and future prospects!

I just read this study about HOPE VI and I'm like totally blown away ! It's so true what they said about how revitalizing public housing can change the future earnings of low-income kids. Like, who wouldn't want their kid to have better chances at college or avoiding a life in prison? And it makes total sense that having friends from different classes would be a game changer for them. It's like, when we isolate people by design, we're basically setting them up for failure .

I love how this study is saying that the design of public housing can actually make or break someone's life. Like, it's not just about throwing some money at a problem, it's about creating communities that actually work for everyone . And yeah, I'm all for learning from HOPE VI and trying to build cities that are inclusive and equitable for everyone. It's time we stop being so divided and start working together .

I think it's wild how much of a difference a well-designed public housing project can make in a kid's life. Like, 17% more likely to go to college? That's huge! And the fact that these kids formed friendships with higher-income peers is crazy - it's like they got access to this whole new world without even realizing it.

And what really gets me is how these old public housing designs were basically designed to keep people down. Like, isolating poor families from surrounding communities was literally a way to reinforce social segregation. It's no wonder that led to increased crime rates and all sorts of other problems.

But HOPE VI shows us that it doesn't have to be that way. By integrating public housing into the community and promoting cross-class living, we can actually help create more equal opportunities for everyone. And yeah, I know the cost was high, but trust me, the economic gains far outweigh it.

I'm still thinking about this study on HOPE VI neighborhoods ... I mean, 17% more likely to attend college? That's insane! And it makes total sense that cross-class integration would be the key to unlocking better futures for low-income kids. I remember hearing about how some of those old public housing projects were super isolated and stigmatized... like, totally opposite of what we're looking for in a community

I'm all for building cities that promote social connection and shared prosperity . It's crazy to think that the design of our public housing can have such a profound impact on people's lives. And you're right, while it was expensive to build HOPE VI projects, the benefits far outweigh the costs .

It's like, we need to be more thoughtful about how we're designing our communities and making sure they're inclusive and equitable for everyone . It's not just about building more housing, it's about creating a whole ecosystem that supports people's well-being and helps them thrive .

I think this study is kinda mind-blowing, you know? I mean, who knew that just changing up the design of public housing could have such a huge impact on low-income kids' future earnings? It's like, we've been building these neighborhoods in isolation for years and it's had some pretty negative effects. But what if we flipped that script and brought people from all walks of life together? I'm not saying it's gonna be easy or cheap, but the idea is worth exploring. And yeah, those numbers are wild - 17% more likely to attend college and 20% less likely to end up in prison... that's some serious game-changer stuff!

omg i feel so bad thinking about those kids stuck in crappy neighborhoods they deserve a chance at a better life, you know? it's crazy how much of a difference design can make. having friends from different walks of life is like, super key to breaking the cycle of poverty, right? and it's not just about individual success either - it's about creating whole communities where everyone thrives i mean, think about it, if we can do this in cities already built, imagine what we could achieve with some intentional planning and funding

You know what's wild? I was just thinking about this the other day... have you ever noticed how some museums have like 3D exhibits where you can walk through a mini replica of ancient Egypt or something? It's so immersive! I went to one last year with my niece and we had a blast. She loved it, but I was like "girl, stop touching the artifacts!" Anyways, back to HOPE VI... yeah, that makes total sense about the cross-class integration thingy. It's all about creating a community where everyone can thrive, not just the low-income kids. Speaking of thrival... have you tried those new plant-based milk alternatives? I'm really into the oat milk stuff right now

I think this study really highlights how important it is to have a mix of people living in close proximity . I mean, low-income kids who are surrounded by higher-income folks are more likely to get into college and less likely to end up in the system . It's like, when you've got people from different walks of life living next door to each other, it fosters a sense of community and understanding . And I think that's exactly what we need more of in our cities - places where everyone can feel welcome and valued . The whole point of HOPE VI was to create neighborhoods that were truly inclusive, and it sounds like they really succeeded . We could all learn a thing or two from their approach .