title: The impact of homelessness prevention programs on homelessness.
abstract: Despite the prevalence of temporary financial assistance programs for those facing imminent homelessness, there is little evidence of their impact. Using data from Chicago from 2010 to 2012 (n = 4448), we demonstrate that the volatile nature of funding availability leads to good-as-random variation in the allocation of resources to individuals seeking assistance. To estimate impacts, we compare families that call when funds are available with those who call when they are not. We find that those calling when funding is available are 76% less likely to enter a homeless shelter. The per-person cost of averting homelessness through financial assistance is estimated as $10,300 and would be much less with better targeting of benefits to lower-income callers. The estimated benefits, not including many health benefits, exceed $20,000.
authors: Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors: William N
authors: WN
authors: Evans
authors: Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors: James X
authors: JX
authors: Sullivan
authors: Department of Economics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Wallskog
mesh_terms: D002641:Chicago; D005376:Financial Management; D006078:Government Programs; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006798:Housing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics*