Evaluating the Expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program

Fiscal Year 2016 Appropriations language directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expand the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration program by adding 100 public housing agencies (PHA) to the program over a 7-year period. MTW designation allows PHAs to design and test innovative, locally designed housing and self-sufficiency strategies for low-income families to advance three statutory objectives:

1. Reduce cost and achieve greater cost effectiveness in federal expenditures;
2. Give incentives to families with children where the head of household is working, is seeking work, or is preparing for work by participating in job training, educational programs, or programs that assist people to obtain employment and become economically self-sufficient; and
3. Increase housing choice for eligible low-income families.

There are currently 39 PHAs designated as MTW agencies under the 1996 authorization of the MTW demonstration. HUD refers to these agencies as the “initial” MTW agencies. Recent PD&R research related to the performance of the initial MTW agencies can be found here.

As required by the statutory language authorizing the expansion of the MTW program, PHAs will be added in cohorts, with each cohort testing a specific policy that PD&R will rigorously evaluate. To date, the MTW Expansion has been guided by input from a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) made up of representatives from MTW PHAs, HUD program and research experts, and independent subject matter experts in housing policy research. For more information on the MTW Expansion more generally, please see the MTW Expansion website.

• Click here for information about the evaluation of the first cohort of the MTW expansion which will evaluate the uses and effects of the provision of MTW flexibility for smaller PHAs.
• Click here for information about the Stepped and Tiered Rent Demonstration (STRD) cohort of the MTW expansion, which will test alternative rent policies.
• Click here for information about the evaluation of the Landlord Incentives cohort of the MTW expansion, which assesses whether providing certain incentives to landlords to encourage their participation in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program increases landlord participation and availability of rental units for voucher holders.