Project Basing Housing Choice: What We Know and Need to Know About Project-Based Vouchers

Daniel Teles
Alyse D. Oneto
Urban Institute

The use of project-based vouchers (PBVs) has increased drastically during the past 20 years. This article provides an overview of the PBV program, explores existing research and evidence, and highlights outstanding knowledge gaps related to the program. The authors focus on three key areas of interest: the importance of PBVs in the development and preservation of affordable housing, the effect of PBVs on housing choice and access to more desirable neighborhoods, and the factors or criteria that should be considered in the evaluation of PBVs, specifically when considering outcomes for and benefits to tenants and communities. The authors then chart a path forward for a research and policy agenda.