The Impact of Rapid Re-housing on Youth Experiencing Homelessness

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 
 

Point Source Youth sought to understand the experiences of formerly homeless or unstably housed young persons throughout their time in a Rapid Re-Housing program. An In-depth Look at the Impact of Rapid Re-Housing for Young Adults Previously Experiencing Homelessness paints a picture of young people in Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, and New York.

Point Source Youth facilitated a longitudinal evaluation that explored what might be the immediate impact of a rapid re-housing program, which provides a combination of rental support and services with a goal of providing youth with effective permanent housing to exit homelessness and remain stably housed. After one year of the evaluation several key takeaways were observed.

Summary of Findings

  • Increased Employment and Income Access

    There was a drastic increase in employment from 56% to 85% and much of this increase was related to increases in full-time employment and working multiple part-time jobs.

  • Reduced Engagement in High Risk Subsistence Strategies

    Survival sex dropped 50% from 8% to 4% at the end of the year. Decreases were also seen in binge drinking and marijuana use.

  • A Stable Home

    85% of participants felt safe where they slept at night after one year in RRH, an increase from 65%. Stress related to finding a place to sleep dropped almost entirely (from 40% to 2%), as well as finding a place to shower and wash clothes.

  • Positive Trends in Mental Health, Well-being, and Social Connections

    Identifying unmet mental health needs dropped slightly over time throughout the program. There were also notable decreases in experiences of discrimination overall. Discrimination based education dropped from 23% to 7%. However, discrimination based on race remained consistent 24% to 22%. Stress related to social and personal development decreased over time as well

  • Stable Housing as Violence Prevention:

    There were decreases in intimate partner violence experiences both as a victim or perpetrator. Victimization of interpersonal physical assault went from 32% to 15%. This coincided with a drop in perpetration 17% to 4%. Witnessing community violence was the most common and most consistent violent experience across time points, although minor decreases were observed. Interactions with law enforcement decreased from baseline (28%) to 12 months (11%).

  • Service Independent:

    Use of drop-in services dropped with 7% reporting daily use at baseline to none reporting that at 12 months. Over three-quarters of all participants stated that they were connected to a supportive staff member throughout the year.

  • No Longer Identifying as Homeless

    Homeless identity decreased across time points, with 82% identifying as “homeless or unstably housed” at baseline and 15% at 12 months.

  • Increased Awareness of PrEP

    PrEP awareness doubled from 49% to 78%.

  • Food Insecurity Decreased Throughout the Year

    Stress related to finding enough food to eat decreased over time.

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