Do Homelessness Prevention Programs Prevent Homelessness? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Phillips, David C.; Sullivan, James X.
• 署名单位: University of Notre Dame
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01344
• 发表日期: 2025-09
• 页码: 1187-1196
• 关键词: critical time intervention; new-york-city; case-management; IMPACT; assistance; families; services; COURT

摘要

This paper provides the first evidence from a randomized controlled trial isolating the impact of financial assistance to prevent homelessness. In this study, individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness were offered temporary financial assistance, averaging nearly $2,000 for those assigned to treatment. Our results show that this assistance significantly reduces homelessness by 3.8 percentage points from a base rate of 4.1%. The effects are larger for people with a history of homelessness and no children. Despite concerns about cost-effectiveness due to difficulty targeting, our estimates suggest that the benefits to homelessness prevention exceed costs.