Choice Neighborhoods: Baseline Conditions and Early Progress

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (Choice) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aims to transform distressed, high-poverty rate neighborhoods into revitalized mixed-income neighborhoods. Its primary vehicle to catalyze this transformation is the rebuilding of distressed public and assisted housing into energy-efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable. Although 60 to 80 percent of funding is directed toward housing redevelopment, Choice also seeks to support the people who live in the target developments and the surrounding neighborhoods through programs that facilitate positive health, safety, employment, mobility, and education outcomes. Finally, the initiative aims to improve the neighborhoods surrounding the revitalized housing by improving access to well-functioning services, high-quality public schools and early education programs, public assets, public transportation, and jobs.