The role of housing and services in ending family homelessness

This article reviews what is known about the role of housing and services in reducing family homelessness. People in families comprise 33 percent of the homeless population, but few resources are available to fully meet their needs. Some researchers have suggested that the vast majority of these families do not need services and that housing vouchers alone can end most family homelessness. The literature on the effects of housing subsidies and services on homeless families is limited compared with the literature on homeless individuals. Evidence suggests that access to housing vouchers seems to increase residential stability and that case management and other services also contribute to residential stability and other desirable outcomes, including family preservation and reunification. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of housing and services in stabilizing different subgroups of families, as well as which approaches are most cost-effective.