Supportive housing does so much more than help families facing or at risk of facing homelessness access stable housing: it also helps them stay together, reduces time in foster care, and, when targeted to families most at risk for separation, it can save the child welfare system money.

Supportive housing is an intervention that evidence (PDF) shows helps homeless populations, including families, veterans, single adults, adults with severe mental illness, and adults with criminal justice involvement. An important element of supportive housing is the Housing First principle, which holds that people need access to housing before they can meet other needs and goals, such as being drug free or finding a job. Services are voluntary and available for as long as they’re needed.

A Children’s Bureau demonstration in five sites tested whether supportive housing could benefit high-need families involved in the child welfare system. Urban evaluated the demonstration using a randomized controlled trial, and a recently completed long-term follow-up showed that supportive housing can be effective at keeping families together.

Read the full article about supportive housing by Michael Pergamit and
Mary K. Cunningham at Urban Institute.