An Ounce of Prevention: Programs to Prevent Homelessness in 25 States

Given the tremendous challenges many individuals and families are facing, homelessness prevention programs must implement strategies to maximize available resources in the regions that they serve. In Massachusetts, the state’s Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program will use fiscal year 2009 as a “year of experimentation” to revamp the program’s structure. Under this restructuring, funded organizations will be permitted “to develop their own regionally based service delivery systems that will promote the goal of ‘targeting the right resources to the right people at the right time.’” In some respects, this means eliminating the use of funds in one area (e.g., furnishings) and increasing benefits in another area (e.g., mortgage assistance). Other homelessness prevention programs may have to engage in a similar type of assessment and restructuring. (Authors)

Publication Date: 
2009
Location: 
Washington, DC, USA