STRATEGIES for Preventing Homelessness

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

STRATEGIES

for Preventing Homelessness

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research

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STRATEGIES

for Preventing Homelessness

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research

Prepared for:

Office of Policy Development and Research U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Prepared by:

Martha R. Burt

The Urban Institute Washington, DC Carol L. Pearson Ann Elizabeth Montgomery Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc. Rockville, MD

May 2005

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many individuals have assisted us on this project; we would especially like to thank the following:

? The researchers and program administrators who nominated potential sites.

? The people we interviewed individually and in on-site meetings, who shared their time, information, and insights with us. We would particularly like to thank our primary contacts at each of the study communities:

Shirley Hendrickson in Hennepin County;

Walter Jabzanka at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health;

Jan Marcason at the Mid America Assistance Coalition;

Corinne Stevens in Montgomery County, MD;

Marcella Maguire and Rob Hess in Philadelphia, PA; and

Jerene Petersen at Urban Peak.

? Marina Myhre, our Government Technical Representative from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who has provided us with thoughtful feedback and guidance throughout the study. Other HUD staff members who provided helpful comments throughout the study include Paul Dornan, Marge Martin, and Kevin Neary from the Office of Policy Development and Research, and Velma Simpson from the Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs.

In addition, we would like to acknowledge Anja Maguire and Madonna Aveni of Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc., who provided editorial assistance.

We appreciate the significant contributions that the above individuals made to carrying out the research and writing of this report. They are not responsible for any remaining errors or omissions. The findings and views herein are those of the contractors and authors.

The contents of this report are the views of the contractors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. Government.

FOREWORD

Homelessness prevention is an essential element of any effort to end homelessness either locally or nationwide. To close the front door of entry into homelessness, the central challenge of prevention is targeting our efforts toward those people that will become homeless without the intervention. Providing prevention assistance to people who would not otherwise become homeless is an inefficient use of limited homelessness dollars.

In 2003, HUD contracted with Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc., and its subcontractor, the Urban Institute, to conduct an exploratory study to identify communities that have implemented effective and well-targeted community-wide homelessness prevention activities. The study documents these approaches in six communities with the hope that other communities might learn how to carry out similar efforts.

This study suggests that a number of elements contribute to homelessness prevention and a number of promising prevention activities exist. The study identifies elements of community homelessness prevention strategies that seem to lead to reductions in the number of people who otherwise would become homeless. The contributing elements include targeting through control of the eligibility screening process; developing community motivation; maximizing mainstream and private resources; fostering leadership; and ensuring the availability and structure of data and information used to track progress, improve on prevention efforts, and facilitate outcomebased contracting. Evidence from the six communities studied indicates that those employing the most elements seem to be more successful at prevention and better able to document their achievements.

Within the context of the aforementioned elements, the study identified four promising homelessness prevention activities that may be used alone or in combination as part of a coherent community-wide strategy: (1) supportive services coupled with permanent housing, particularly when combined with effective discharge from institutions, especially mental hospitals; (2) mediation in Housing Courts; (3) cash assistance for rent or mortgage arrears; and (4) rapid exit from shelter.

This study provides insight into approaches that will help prevent homelessness. It is an important contribution to our understanding of how to help homeless Americans.

' Secretary

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