By Karen Chapple and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris
California Air Resources Board
February 2021
In this report, Professors Karen Chapple and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris discuss California’s efforts to address displacement amidst climate and housing crises, emphasizing the need for effective anti-displacement strategies. With increased public investments in areas such as transit, parks, and housing, concerns about the displacement of low-income residents have emerged. Research on the impacts of public investment on displacement yields mixed findings, prompting the need for evidence on effective anti-displacement strategies.
The report reviews over 150 articles and conducts interviews with practitioners and academics to summarize anti-displacement strategies’ literature and effectiveness. It highlights the importance of neighborhood stabilization and tenant protection policies and suggests prioritizing housing preservation and tenant protection in state investments. However, it notes challenges such as racial disparities in displacement impacts and insufficient data for evaluation.
Given the COVID-19 crisis, the report suggests making temporary eviction moratoria and rental assistance permanent and encourages implementing anti-displacement policies in infrastructure investments. It also recommends seizing opportunities to purchase private multi-family buildings for permanent affordability to prevent displacement amid fluctuating housing markets. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policies and coordination among state agencies to address displacement effectively.
