According to Governing, Johns Hopkins University released a study recently linking affordable housing to children’s school performance. The study focused on families at or below 200% of the poverty level. It showed that children in families spending roughly 30% of their income on housing performed better in math and reading than those in families spending much more or much less (i.e., more than 50% or less than 20% of their income).
Professor Sandra Newman of the university’s Center on Housing, Neighborhoods and Communities co-authored the report. According to Newman, the findings indicate that families that spend too much of their income on housing, ultimately spend less on things that contribute to educational achievement (e.g., books and computers). Families that spend too little on housing are more likely to live in low-quality housing and distressed neighborhoods—factors that also have a detrimental effect on learning. But when families move from spending too much or too little on housing to around 30%, they tend to invest an average of $98 and $170 more, respectively, on child enrichment. And according to the study’s press release, even a small increase makes a difference.
