A place to call "home": Exploring the experiences of section 8 housing choice voucher program recipients in their efforts to find housing

Abstract

A policy goal of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program consists of enabling recipients to select housing and neighborhoods of their choice through the promotion of residential mobility, yet prior evaluations of the program have failed to explore the experiences of recipients with regard to finding housing. This study incorporated qualitative data collection methods to gather the experiences and perspectives of HCV program recipients in their efforts to find housing. The data analysis revealed six prominent steps, which together illustrate the housing search process of the recipients. Implications for social work practice with recipients and housing service providers are discussed with particular focus toward implementing housing counseling services. © 2009 Alliance for Children and Families.