Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
4-2012
Abstract
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act”) provided $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), a temporary program that addressed both homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing of families already experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $44.5 million, including $26.1 million to individual Massachusetts communities and $18.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Of its funds, the state allocated $8.3 million for rapid re-housing of families who were living in shelters or motels.
This report explores the experiences of 486 of these families who received rapid re-housing assistance from six agencies in four regions of the state. The Center for Social Policy (CSP) at the University of Massachusetts Boston analyzed data about these families to develop a profile of the characteristics of participant families, their assets and barriers related to housing and economic stability, and housing outcomes after 12 to 18 months of program participation. In addition, CSP also completed interviews with staff of each agency, a focus group of Boston area staff, and a detailed review of a selection of case files to provide additional, rich details about the circumstances of individual families.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Tim H. and Lane, Terry S., "Rapid Re-Housing of Families Experiencing Homelessness in Massachusetts: Maintaining Housing Stability" (2012). Center for Social Policy Publications. 61.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/csp_pubs/61
Publisher
Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
Rights
© 2012 Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
Comments
Published by the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership.
This publication was made possible, in part, through funding provided by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development with federal CSBG Special Projects funds.
Publisher’s Note: Although the data collected and analyzed for this report is that of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program, the conclusions and recommendations are those solely of the authors and Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership.
Contributors
Mary Doyle, MBHP Director of Policy, Development, & External Relations
Langley Keyes, MBHP Board Member & Professor Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christopher Norris, MBHP Executive Director
Maura Pensak, MBHP Director of Client Services
Editor
Christopher Blagg, MBHP Communications Manager