The Section 8 (F)influencer economy

Abstract

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV, colloquially known as “Section 8” vouchers) program is one of the largest affordable housing programs in the United States, providing private market rental subsidies to millions of Americans annually. Over the past several years, a number of financial influencers have built large followings on social media by offering real estate investment advice focused on renting property to HCV holders. Influencers like Section 8 Karim on Instagram and Tom Cruz on TikTok use contemporary social media marketing techniques, from engagement farming and giveaways to “rage bait” content designed to go viral, in order to convince inexperienced investors to pay for online trainings and mentorship programs of dubious value. Their underlying pitch relies on a kind of spatial fix between investors in wealthier areas, renters in cheaper markets, and government-guaranteed rent payments. In this paper, I use the generative AI queries suggested by one these influencers to map the geography of this specific kind of speculative real estate investment. The spatial strategy behind this kind of investment is highly sensitive to recent changes in HUD’s administration of the voucher program, especially the shift to Small Area Fair Market Rents in many of the cities targeted by Section 8 influencers. I conclude by examining what the Section 8 influencer economy can tell us about the collision between market-based housing policies and the incentives social media platforms provide for personal branding and hustle culture, and some potential consequences for housing markets, low-income tenants, and prospective real estate investors.