Housing Research: 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability Technical Report

Maintaining safe, affordable homes for residents has become increasingly urgent as public housing ages. These homes provide stability and opportunity for the 1.5 million people who rely on public housing.
An analysis from the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC), part of the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability, finds that preserving the nation’s 899,000 public housing units could require approximately $169.1 billion. This research provides a data-driven foundation to guide policymakers, housing authorities, and communities in sustaining public housing for generations to come.

What you’ll learn

• Estimated preservation costs: The average unit requires $188,090 to maintain, with costs ranging from under $87,700 to more than $273,400 per unit.
• Factors influencing costs: Older buildings, lower inspection scores, larger units, multifamily structures, and high-cost regions generally have higher rehabilitation expenses.
• Data-driven insights: Analysis of recent RAD conversions highlights where investments are most needed and how costs vary across the portfolio.
• Strategies for action: PHAs can leverage partnerships, strategic planning, and multi-source funding to make preservation achievable.

Why this matters

Without timely investment, public housing risks deterioration, threatening the well-being of residents and the long-term sustainability of this vital resource.

The 10 Year Roadmap unites leaders from HUD, Congress, PHAs, researchers, advocates, and residents to identify the partnerships, funding, and strategies needed to preserve public housing. By understanding these costs and trends, stakeholders can develop actionable plans that ensure safe, efficient, and resilient homes for the future.

Access more resources

Read the full Technical Report at www.pahrc.org/research. Explore companion blogs for additional insights and success stories:

• Charting a Roadmap to Preserve Public Housing

• Innovative Paths to Preservation: How Public Housing Authorities Are Modernizing Public Housing

Learn more about the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability at 10YearRoadmap.org.

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