Where have all the people gone? A policy review and geospatial analysis of Hope VI in Atlanta, 2015

This study examines the federally-funded HOPE VI initiative as it relates to affordable housing in Atlanta. It examines spatial and social outcomes experienced by residents of the now-demolished public housing units. Findings indicate, inter alia, that the voices of residents were either ignored or excluded in the policymaking decisions of the Atlanta Housing Authority. A case study analysis approach was used to analyze data gathered from three sources: primary data collected from an original online survey, primary data gathered from personal interviews with community stakeholders, and secondary survey and focus group data from two evaluation studies of Capitol Homes revitalization. The researcher found that, while there are still barriers to sustainability and self-sufficiency, most of the residents who were displaced are generally satisfied with their living environment post relocation. The conclusions drawn from the findings suggest that more evaluations are necessary to determine long-term outcomes of relocated residents. Furthermore, residents - as beneficiaries and stakeholders of housing policy - should have an equal voice in housing development decisions of the Atlanta Housing Authority and its partners