Emergency financial assistance reduces risk of homelessness
Emergency financial assistance reduces risk of homelessness Smart Cities Dive
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Sustainable Development Goals and Emergency Financial Assistance in California
Dive Brief:
- An emergency financial assistance program in Santa Clara County, California, significantly reduced the likelihood that individuals and families would become homeless, a University of Notre Dame study released last month finds.
- Individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness or eviction who received short-term support via money for expenses such as rent or utilities through the program were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months and 73% less likely to do so over the course of a year, according to the study.
- The program also reduced other public expenditures around the use of emergency shelters, healthcare, and the criminal justice system, said report co-author David Phillips, a research professor of economics at Notre Dame. It provided $2.47 in benefits per net dollar spent on emergency financial assistance, making such programs a “cost-effective option,” he said.
Dive Insight:
As U.S. cities grapple with an increasing number of people experiencing homelessness, their responses vary from criminalizing unsheltered homelessness to taking a housing-first approach.
This new research shows that programs that provide emergency financial assistance, covering costs such as a single month of rent or utilities, can be highly effective in preventing people from being evicted or becoming homeless in the first place. Such city- or nonprofit-operated programs are prevalent in cities including New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Santa Clara County is an area with high rent costs and high levels of homelessness. The program provides financial assistance, including assistance with rent, security deposits, and utilities. The program is co-led by the county’s homeless prevention system and several nonprofit organizations, each operating in a different part of the county.
The Notre Dame study evaluated individuals and families at risk of being evicted or becoming homeless who were allotted financial assistance through the program between July 2019 and December 2020. Researchers reviewed 216 people who were selected from a subset of applicants at random to receive assistance and 362 others who met the criteria but were not selected. The average household receiving assistance received nearly $2,000, according to the report. The financial assistance was especially effective at preventing homelessness among households with a history of homelessness and households with no children.
The process of becoming homeless is “very costly for folks,” said Phillips, citing disruptions for kids, a higher chance that a person will experience health issues or face employment problems.
“Prevention is the thing that is less expensive to do because the situation is not as severe,” Phillips said.
A primary concern about such programs, according to the report, is that most individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless do not actually become homeless, thus targeting the money towards those who would otherwise become homeless is difficult. But Phillips said despite those concerns, there’s real evidence that such programs work.
“You offer it to a broad group of people knowing that a lot of those folks might be able to resolve their situations,” said Phillips. “But you know you’re going to get enough people that if they didn’t get the assistance, they would end up in a crisis, and you can solve it with this sort of temporary assistance.”
In the Santa Clara County program, the cost savings the program provides by reducing participants’ use of emergency shelters and healthcare and interactions with the criminal justice system are enough to take care of the administrative costs of the program but not enough to cover the financial assistance itself, Phillips said.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article addresses the issue of homelessness and the effectiveness of emergency financial assistance programs in preventing homelessness. This connects to SDG 1, which aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms, including homelessness. The article also mentions the program’s impact on reducing public expenditures, which relates to SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. Additionally, the article highlights the collaboration between the county’s homeless prevention system and nonprofit organizations, which aligns with SDG 17, which emphasizes partnerships for achieving the goals.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are Target 1.3, which focuses on implementing social protection systems for the poor and vulnerable, Target 11.1, which aims to ensure access to adequate housing and basic services, and Target 17.17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
The article does not provide specific indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. It mainly focuses on the effectiveness of the emergency financial assistance program in preventing homelessness and reducing public expenditures.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | Indicator not mentioned in the article |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: smartcitiesdive.com
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