The purpose of this study was to examine tenant participation in self-sufficiency programs in Hampton Public Housing and to explore relationships that might exist between participation in programs, demographic factors, and housing values. A theoretical framework was developed based on the human needs theory and an adaptation of the home values test.

Programs offered to the Pine Chapel community of Hampton, Virginia were ranked by HUD administrators to determine programs most likely to assist residents in achieving self-sufficiency. Higher ranked programs were related to education for adults and children.

Data was collected from 42 residents. The sample consisted, primarily of black female single parents between 19 and 25 years old. Chi Square analysis was performed to test three hypotheses. Marital status, number of dependents, and household type were found to be significantly related to level of program participation. Findings indicate that households most likely to be involved in higher-level programs were married-couple households, households with two dependents, or dual-parent and multi-generational households.

Most respondents had lower-level housing values. However, marital status was significantly related to housing values. Households most likely to have higher level housing values were those where respondents were separated, widowed, or divorced. No significant relationship was found between the level of program participation and the level of housing values.

Conclusions reached were that households with two adults present may have offered more opportunities for respondents’ participation in educational programs. Most participant households included children and their program involvement often centered around children.