Abstract

This paper tests whether there is a causal relationship between homeownership and two forms of civic engagement.  We theorize that homeownership can motivate involvement in local organizations and informal social interaction among lower-income families by fostering a greater sense of attachment and commitment to one's neighborhood. Using a sample of low- and moderate-income homeowners and a matched sample of renters, we analyze data on neighborhood group membership, tenure status, and mobility over a 4-year period. We find that renters who became homeowners during the study period were no more involved in neighborhood organizations prior to homeownership than renters who did not become homeowners. However, involvement increased significantly after these initial renters became homeowners. We also find that long-time homeowners who move are more likely to get involved in community organizations in their new neighborhoods, while renters who relocate are not. We discuss the implications of this finding for policies aimed at supporting homeownership in lower-wealth urban neighborhoods.