Journal Articles Summarize the Best Evidence and Policies to Prevent Family Homelessness

The Family Options study, which Abt Associates helped carry out, followed 2,282 families and nearly 5,400 children for more than three years to learn which interventions best address the challenge of homelessness. Abt Associates work on Family Options Study featured in Cityscape

The best evidence on the policies and interventions that can reduce the experience for homelessness for families are now at your fingertips.

The latest special issue of Cityscape, a journal published by the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD), offers a symposium of articles on the findings and implications of the Family Options Study. Abt led the study on behalf of HUD, along with other partners.

Abt Principal Associate Michelle Wood guest edited the issue with Anne Fletcher, a social science analyst at HUD and senior policy and research analyst for the U.S. Commission on Evidence-based Policymaking.

“The significance of the Family Options Study cannot be overstated,” said Mary Joel Holin, Abt division vice president for Social and Economic Policy. “This study provided needed insight on how the homeless system works and what the radiating effects are from some of the interventions.”

The Family Options study followed 2,282 families and nearly 5,400 children for more than three years to learn which interventions best address the challenge of homelessness. Abt and partners led the study comparing the impacts of random assignment to one of four groups: long-term rent subsidy; short-term rent subsidies; transitional housing, and usual care, in which families did not have priority access to a program that provided a place to live. Results of the study are available online.

In the special issue, Abt’s articles include:

• “Next Steps for the Family Options Study,” by Anne Fletcher and Michelle Wood;
• “Family Options Study: How Homeless Families Use Housing Choice Vouchers.” by Claudia Solari and Jill Khadduri;
• “Family Options Study: Effects on Family Living Situation.” by Daniel Gubits, Tom McCall and Michelle Wood; and
• “Lessons for Conducting Experimental Evaluations in Complex Field Studies: Family Options Study by Michelle Wood and Anne Fletcher.

Other authors contributed to the special issue, including international researchers who examined the findings in context to homelessness research and policies in Australia, Canada and Ireland. U.S.-based authors also contributed to the issue to provide further insight on the significant positive impacts detected in the study, which extend beyond housing stability.

Read the special issue.