The Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership has released a report assessing the effectiveness of re-housing families sheltered in motels with Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) funds. The report finds that very few families are likely to be able to sustain housing once short-term housing assistance expires. The report includes the following recommendations for the HPRP and Housing First model:
- The Commonwealth needs a case management system that goes beyond housing stability.
- Additional funding is needed for stabilization services.
- Experienced housing service agencies with established property owner relationships are best suited to re-house families and build stability.
- The barriers to entering the rental market faced by families who have been homeless must be reduced.
- Success should not be measured only by the number of families who move out of motels.
- Short-term rental assistance should be available for more than one year and renewed in yearly increments, particularly in areas with high housing costs.
Please click here to read the report.