Date of Conferral

12-31-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Anne Hacker

Abstract

The problem this study addressed involved factors associated with long-term program involvement of female-headed households living in public and vouchered housing. The literature indicated a significant gap regarding the reasons women who received federal housing assistance stayed in government housing. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine the experiences of female-headed households living in public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) housing in a Central Texas region, specifically to identify the factors that limited their ability to leave these programs. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction of target populations theory, the data was collected from eight participants living in public housing. Interview data were analyzed using thematic coding. Findings included five themes, including participants’ overall lived experiences, complacency, the burdens of HUD programs, participants’ willingness to comply, and the benefits of maintaining the status quo. The findings revealed that while public housing provides a necessary safety net, the current policy structure has produced complacency, entitlement, and dependency. Recommendations include expanding the research to other regions, conducting a focus group study, and imposing a time limit on federally funded housing programs. As the need for housing assistance persists, implementing time limits could reduce residents' dependence on housing programs and foster positive social change. Collaborating with policymakers, housing authority representatives, and housing researchers brings the problem to the forefront and presents opportunities for policy changes.

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