Can Homelessness Be Prevented? Evidence from New York City’s HomeBase Program
Description:
In 2004, New York City established HomeBase in order to reduce the number of families entering its homeless shelters. Families who think they are in danger of becoming homeless can go to HomeBase offices to receive a wide variety of assistance, both financial and not, to keep them out of shelters. (Authors)
Content:
In 2004, New York City established HomeBase in order to reduce the number of families entering its homeless shelters. Families who think they are in danger of becoming homeless can go to HomeBase offices to receive a wide variety of assistance, both financial and not, to keep them out of shelters. HomeBase started in different neighborhoods at different times. We use this variation in start- up to estimate the effect of HomeBase on shelter entries and exits. Our best estimates are that for every hundred families HomeBase enrolled, shelter entries fell by between 10 and 20. HomeBase had no discernible effect on the length of shelter spells. We believe that this is the first quasi-experimental evaluation of a homelessness prevention program. (Authors)
Type of Resource:
Report
Publication Date:
2011
Location:
New York City, New York