CSH Research on the Impact of Permanent Supportive Housing

CSH is involved in a number of rigorous research studies that will provide valuable information on the impact of supportive housing for different populations, including families and individuals leaving jail and prison.  These studies are tracking important outcomes including recidivism, housing stability, cost-effectiveness, and health and mental health status.

Current research regarding the impact of supportive housing includes:

Chicago Frequent Users of Jail and Mental Health Services.  This project will target chronically homeless individuals with severe mental illness who have had numerous stays in Cook County Jail.  The evaluation of this project is a highly rigorous, random assignment study designed to measure the impact of supportive housing on arrest and recidivism, housing stability, patterns of health and mental health service utilization, and cost effectiveness.  The Urban Institute is conducting this evaluation with a grant from the National Institute of Justice. 

New York City Frequent User Service Enhancement (FUSE).  The FUSE project targets individuals who have had at least four jails stays and four shelter stays in the last five years and places them in supportive housing. The Columbia University Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies is conducting an evaluation of the second phase of this project, which will provide supportive housing to approximately 100 eligible individuals.  The evaluation uses a matched comparison group design and will track impacts on housing stability and recidivism and analyze cost effectiveness.  A tenant survey will provide valuable information on health and mental health outcomes and patterns of service utilization.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) Supportive Housing Initiative.   The ODRC Supportive Housing Initiative provides supportive housing to homeless and disabled individuals leaving the state prison system.  The Urban Institute is conducting a rigorous study with a matched comparison group designed to measure impact on recidivism, returns to homelessness, patterns of service utilization, and cost effectiveness. 

Keeping Families Together.  Keeping Families Together (KFT) in New York City targets families with long histories of homelessness and an open child welfare case.  An evaluation of this project will focus primarily on the success and challenges of program implementation.  It will track participant outcomes including family reunification and preservation, service utilization, and housing stability.  Sylvia Ridlen, PhD, is leading the evaluation of this project. 

Connecticut Statewide Supportive Housing Evaluation.  The CSH-CT office is undertaking a multi-year evaluation examining tenant outcomes, programs, cost-effectiveness, and selected neighborhood impacts for supportive housing initiatives administered through contracts with the State of Connecticut.  This study is being conducted by Abt Associates and VIVA Consulting.

See Also: CSH Research: Systems Change Initiatives 

For questions about CSH research projects or any of the resources on this page, or if you have other research-related questions, please email: Jacquelyn Anderson, Senior Program Manager for Research and Evaluation