Chao Wang is a PhD candidate in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University, specializing in affordable housing policy and community development. His research examines the influence of affordable housing programs on local residents, including federal-level programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and state-level initiatives like Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program. As a housing scholar, Chao uses mixed-methods to explore how housing policies may shape opportunities for residents. His research interests include mixed-income housing and neighborhoods, social interaction among neighbors, and poverty concentration, housing inequality, and economic mobilities.
This research examines how the location of affordable housing shapes access to opportunity. Using mixed methods, the study evaluates whether state-created opportunity maps influence where affordable housing developments are built. The work highlights how housing policy affects access to education, transportation, employment, and long-term social mobility for low-income residents.