Homeless Families Research Briefs

2014-2018

This contract produced a series of research briefs on issues related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of families and children experiencing homelessness. The briefs were based on analyses of data collected as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Options Study , a multi-site random assignment experiment designed to study the impact of various housing and services interventions on homeless families.

Between September 2010 and January 2012, over 2,200 homeless families across twelve communities enrolled in the Family Options Study and were randomly assigned to one of three interventions (permanent housing subsidy, project-based transitional housing, community-based rapid re-housing) or to usual care. Data on these families have been collected at multiple points in time using a variety of instruments including surveys, qualitative interviews, and child assessments.

ACF and ASPE contracted with Abt Associates, HUD’s contractor for the Family Options Study, to produce a series of research briefs that built on the data and analysis already being conducted for HUD to answer additional questions related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of homeless families and children experiencing homelessness.

Point(s) of contact: Kathleen Moore

Information about public and restricted data from the original Family Options Study:

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/family_options_study.html#impact-ir-tab

Related Resources

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Patterns of Benefit Receipt among Families who Experience Homelessness

September 15, 2017
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What are the patterns of benefit receipt among families who experience homelessness? This brief uses data collected for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Options Study to analyze patterns of receipt of TANF cash assistance, SNAP food assistance, and publicly funded health insurance benefits among these families, with a focus on the characteristics of those receiving and not receiving benefits...

Child and Partner Transitions among Families Experiencing Homelessness

July 17, 2017
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This brief explores child and partner separations among families experiencing homelessness.

Additionally, the brief examines...

 

Well-being of Young Children after Experiencing Homelessness

March 14, 2017
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This brief examines the well-being of young children 20 months after staying in emergency homeless shelters with their families...

Are Homeless Families Connected to the Social Safety Net?

April 5, 2016
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This brief examines whether families experiencing homelessness are connected to the benefits and services of the social safety net. We found that — while participation rates varied by program — for most safety net programs, homeless families in our sample reported rates of participation greater than or equal to those of other deeply poor families...

Predicting Repeated and Persistent Family Homelessness: Do Families’ Characteristics and Experiences Matter

November 15, 2018
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The Homeless Families Research Briefs project, conducted by Abt Associates, is producing a series of research briefs on issues related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of families and children experiencing homelessness. Using data collected from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Options Study, these briefs build on the data and analysis already being conducted for HUD to answer additional questions of interest...

Behavioral Health Improvements Over Time among Adults in Families Experiencing Homelessness

October 9, 2018
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The Homeless Families Research Briefs project, conducted by Abt Associates, is producing a series of research briefs on issues related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of families and children experiencing homelessness. Using data collected from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Options Study...

Employment of Families Experiencing Homelessness

August 16, 2018
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The Homeless Families Research Briefs project, conducted by Abt Associates, is producing a series of research briefs on issues related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of families and children experiencing homelessness. Using data collected from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Options Study, these briefs build on the data and analysis already being conducted for HUD to answer additional questions of interest to HHS.

Child Separation among Families Experiencing Homelessness

April 27, 2018
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The Homeless Families Research Briefs project, conducted by Abt Associates, is producing a series of research briefs on issues related to the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of families and children experiencing homelessness. Using data collected from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Options Study, these briefs build on the data and analysis already being conducted for HUD to answer additional questions of interest to HHS.

Hispanic Families Experiencing Homelessness

October 5, 2017
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This research snapshot describes the experiences of a group of 381 Hispanic families after experiencing homelessness...

Adolescent Well-Being after Experiencing Family Homelessness

July 6, 2016
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Most adolescents who experience homelessness do so as part of a family that includes at least one adult. This brief examines the well-being of adolescents who recently experienced homelessness with their families and continued to be part of the family 20 months later....