A growing body of research suggests that stable, affordable housing may provide children with enhanced opportunities for educational success. While schools and teachers bear principal responsibility for children’s education, research shows that a supportive and stable home environment can complement the efforts of educators, leading to better student achievement.

As an update to a 2007 literature review, the author recently surveyed the academic literature on various ways in which the production, rehabilitation, or other provision of affordable housing may affect educational outcomes for children. Most of the original hypotheses have been retained, and the evidence has been updated. The review revealed six promising hypotheses regarding the contribution of affordable housing to education, which are discussed below.