Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition

Date Published: 9/08/2025

Link: Study Compares Direct-to-Tenant Cash Assistance and Housing Vouchers in Philadelphia

Reporting research from The Housing Initiative at Penn (University of Pennsylvania), the study compared the outcomes of two rental assistance programs in Philadelphia – a direct-to-tenant cash assistance program (PHLHousing+) and the Housing Choice Voucher program (Philadelphia Housing Authority). The sample population was renters with incomes less than 50% of the Area Median Income who did not receive other federal rental assistance and included a randomized control. The authors found that 100% of households receiving cash assistance were able to use it, compared to only 75% of voucher recipients. The voucher recipients also took significantly longer to use their voucher (120 days) than the cash recipients took to use their cash after enrollment  (21 days). Both programs saw reduced forced moves and decreased serious housing concerns. Cash assistance recipients additionally saw a reduction in homelessness. The authors concluded the study advocating for cash assistance as a “valuable addition to the tools used to keep low-income families housed.”