Doctoral Committee–Level Explanation (Condensed)

Problem context & research gap

The “missing middle” population (roughly 60–120% AMI) is structurally underserved by both subsidized housing programs and market-rate developers. Many households are rent-burdened and experience elevated residential mobility and school instability.

Proposed intervention

This project operates a mission-driven, steward-ownership real estate enterprise designed to:

• Acquire and operate mixed-income rental housing
• Target missing-middle households with attainable (not subsidized) rents
• Reinvest operational surplus into property quality, labor stability, reserves, and tenant stability initiatives

Research questions (illustrative)

• Housing stability: Does the model reduce turnover and residential mobility vs. comparable rentals?
• Financial sustainability: Can the model maintain acceptable NOI and DSCR without subsidy?
• Educational mobility: Do resident children exhibit improved school continuity (privacy-protected measurement)?
• Bank collaboration: Can CRA-aligned partnerships enable scalable financing?

Methods (high level)

A mixed-methods design combines aggregated quantitative indicators (stability, rent burden, operations) and qualitative interviews, with strict privacy protections.