Gentrification-Induced Displacement, Destination Neighborhoods, and Destination Houses for Low-Income Households in Columbus, Ohio

Abstract Problem, research strategy, and findings There is extensive research on the relationship between gentrification and the displacement of disadvantaged residents from their neighborhoods. In this study, we reassessed gentrification-induced displacement in the city of Columbus (OH) with the additional goal of identifying the characteristics of destination neighborhoods and the houses of those displaced. For this analysis, we used a unique household-level longitudinal data set, the Data Axle Historical U.S. Residential Dataset, and employed hybrid logistic regression modeling to first examine whether gentrification leads to the displacement of low-income households and then to identify where displaced residents settle. Results indicate a strong connection between gentrification and displacement. Furthermore, displaced households typically move to better neighborhoods in terms of poverty, but to worse housing situations. Our findings suggest that households experiencing displacement face affordability challenges and often lack access to subsidized units in their destination neighborhoods. Takeaway for practice Findings from this study demonstrate the importance of anti-displacement measures that are central to enabling low-income households to remain in their neighborhoods. They also reveal the necessity to plan for the aftermath of gentrification-induced displacement. Just as neighborhood choice is critical for displaced low-income households, housing choices are also central to defining when a move is an upward or downward one. Our results suggest that access to affordable and subsidized housing in destination neighborhoods is central to mitigating the long-term negative impact of gentrification-induced displacement on low-income households. Our findings reveal the importance of household-level residential mobility data in determining the full implications of gentrification on vulnerable residents.