Replication Data and Code for the Impact of Homelessness Prevention Programs on Homelessness

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) James Sullivan; William Evans, University of Notre Dame; Melanie Wallskog

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
  Stata data and do files 11/30/2021 11:41:AM
ReadMeDraftforHPCCPaper application/pdf 75.5 KB 08/17/2016 11:55:AM

Project Citation: 

Sullivan, James, Evans, William, and Wallskog, Melanie. Replication Data and Code for the Impact of Homelessness Prevention Programs on Homelessness. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2016-10-11. https://doi.org/10.3886/E100231V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary 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.




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V1 [2016-10-11]

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