“Only a very small percentage of white children live in high poverty neighborhoods throughout childhood, while a majority of black children do.”  Pew Charitable Trust, Neighborhoods and the Black-White Mobility Gap (2009).

Launched in 2003, the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program was established to combat the concentration of poverty in minority communities.  The program provides current and former public housing families and families on the public housing or Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists access to private market housing in low poverty and predominantly white neighborhoods.  Program participants receive budget and financial education, at least two years of post-move counseling, and employment and transportation assistance.   To date, the program has moved 1,522 families into low-poverty, racially integrated neighborhoods.

A recent report written by Lora Engdahl and published by Poverty and Race Research Action Council and The Baltimore Regional Housing Campaign gives the program a very positive review. The report is based on the results of an ACLU of Maryland client feedback survey.  Participants reported dramatic, positive changes in their environment upon moving, significant improvement in school quality, and enhanced quality of life.