1. Internship Abstract
Title: Evaluation of Emergency Shelter and Wraparound Services for Homeless Families
Name: Bhavin Patel
Preceptors: Paula Massa, Affiliates Projects Associate
Ryan Berens, Technical Services Associate
Agency: Family Promise, Inc.
Purpose: To discern patterns in housing and employment outcomes for homeless population participating
in shelter and support programs, and determine efficacy of said programs.
Significance: Many U.S. families are homeless or at risk of homelessness, a circumstance that is
especially stressful for families with children. As the policy response to the problem of family
homelessness has been inadequate, nonprofits have assumed much of the burden of providing emergency
shelter and wraparound services to homeless families. To develop a proper account of family
homelessness, it is important to study client data gathered by such a nonprofit.
Method/Approach: I conducted a retrospective review of responses to in-house ‘census’ surveys to
discern patterns in demographics, economic circumstances and post-assistance housing outcomes of
homeless families served by the nonprofit over the past three years. I used data management techniques
and statistical methods to produce appropriate data visuals and analysis. I then revised the original
surveys with the goal of garnering future responses that will provide a more thorough account of family
homelessness in the U.S.
Outcomes: 3634, 3741 and 3940 families were assisted in 2013, ‘14 and ‘15, respectively. During this
period, families’ reported racial identity remained steady at approximately: 43% African American; 36%
Caucasian; 10% Latino; 7% Multi-racial; 2% Native American; 1.5% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; 0.5%
Asian. The reported primary causes of homelessness in 2015 were 40% Eviction/Foreclosure, 26%
Displacement and 34% Other Reason. From 2013-15, the percentage of families with at least one
employed adult upon program entry increased from 26.4% to 33.6%. Across the years, ~80% of families
who received assistance were from the county in which they received assistance. In 2015, 73% of families
assisted by the nonprofit were able to secure permanent or transitional housing.
Evaluation: Though there is no clear breakdown of families with employment as single- or double-
income households, the findings suggest that employment alone is not enough to secure housing. The
high incidence of ‘Other Reason’ as the primary cause of family homelessness warrants further
investigation. The findings on spatiality suggest that families will not travel very far for assistance,
possibly out of concern for children’s school enrollment. The nonprofit has a high rate of success in
rehousing families, especially considering the precarious situation and instability of a family experiencing
homelessness.