Evaluation of New York/New York III permanent supportive housing program

• Published in: Evaluation and program planning 2023-04, Vol.97, p.102245, Article 102245
• Main Authors: Gouse, Isabel, Walters, Sarah, Miller-Archie, Sara, Singh, Tejinder, Lim, Sungwoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost analysis; Health outcomes; Housing stability; Permanent Supportive Housing
• ISSN: 0149-7189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102245

In 2005, the city and state of New York launched New York/New York III (NY/NY III), a permanent supportive housing program for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with complex medical and behavioral health issues. This review paper summarizes a decade of findings (2007–2017) from the NY/NY III evaluation team, to analyze this program’s impact on various housing and health outcomes. The evaluation team linked NY/NY III eligible persons with administrative data from two years pre- and two years post-eligibility and compared housing and health outcomes between placed and unplaced groups using propensity score analysis. Placement into NY/NY III housing was associated with improved physical and mental health outcomes, increased housing stability, and statistically significant cost savings per person after one year of placement. The evaluation team recommends that municipalities invest in supportive housing as a means for mitigating homelessness and improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population. •Permanent supportive housing improves health outcomes.•New York City housing program increased housing stability.•New York City housing program led to cost savings after 1 year placement.•Propensity score analysis to compare placed/unplaced people in supportive housing.•Theory of change useful for assessing link between program activities and effects.