Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

This paper will summarize the experimentally-based evidence from the Family Options Study of the effects of three assistance approaches on adult family head labor market engagement, annualized earnings, average family income, sources of income, education and training, food security, and economic stress.  It will also examine effects on adults’ physical health, mental health, symptoms of trauma, substance use, and experience with domestic violence.  Effects on adult well-being were hypothesized to be indirect, derived from effects on housing stability  The policy contrasts to be covered include  comparison of priority offers of SUB, CBRR, and PBTH interventions to one another and to usual care to reach conclusions about the effectiveness of these interventions in promoting self-sufficiency and adult well-being for families experiencing homelessness.  Findings cover the crucial period from shortly after shelter entry to 20 months of follow up.