Rapid re-housing initiatives
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help support healthy living environments and assist residents as they navigate public benefits programs. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Minimizing time individuals spend homeless: Rapid re-housing is a short-term homelessness intervention that can serve as an important part of a community’s homeless crisis response system. By quickly connecting households with permanent housing shortly after they begin experiencing homelessness, rapid re-housing programs aim to reduce the amount of time individuals are homeless.
A broadly applicable model: Rapid re-housing programs may be operated by nonprofit organizations or city and county social service agencies. In most cases, services are available to anyone experiencing homelessness, though some programs may be targeted toward specific populations, like veterans, survivors of domestic violence, or families with school-aged children. Typically, individuals connect with rapid re-housing services through referrals from other social service programs (e.g., emergency shelters).
Identifying and securing housing quickly: The main focus of rapid re-housing programs is to assist participants in identifying and overcoming barriers to accessing housing. To this end, participants are assigned a caseworker to assist with finding rental housing that meets the participant’s needs, completing rental applications, preparing for interviews with landlords, and more.
Providing financial assistance: To address financial barriers to accessing housing, rapid re-housing programs typically offer participants financial assistance for rent and move-in costs. In most cases, financial assistance is provided for up to six months. For those needing longer term rental assistance, programs may help participants apply to a Housing Choice Voucher or other rental assistance program.
Offering ongoing case management: Rapid re-housing programs should offer participants ongoing case management services after they secure housing. At this stage, the caseworker can assist participants in resolving any housing-related issues that may threaten their housing stability. The caseworker may also connect the participant to other community-based resources to assist them in achieving their goals.
- Cost per Participant
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Approximately $900 per family
Multiple studies with rigorous designs provide some evidence for rapid re-housing as a strategy to reduce homelessness and improve access to social services.
- This assessment is based on evidence from a 2019 systematic review.
Avoid setting barriers to accessing services: Rapid re-housing is based on the Housing First model, which recognizes that stable housing is a prerequisite for individuals to achieve other behavioral, employment, or health-related goals. As such, rapid re-housing programs should set as few preconditions as possible for individuals to secure housing through the program (e.g., not requiring sobriety).
Ensure services are readily accessible: The primary goal of the rapid re-housing model is to reduce the amount of time that individuals are homeless. As such, programs should take steps to make their services readily accessible where households that have become homeless may seek help (e.g., emergency shelters, food pantries). In communities with a coordinated social services hotline (i.e., 211), rapid re-housing programs should integrate their screening and triage processes into the system.
Match services to participant needs: When households enter a rapid re-housing program, their case worker should work with them to complete a housing plan. The plan will identify barriers the household faces to securing housing and help determine the level of financial assistance and support services that the household requires. This assessment should be redone at regular intervals to determine whether the level of assistance should be adjusted.
Measure program effectiveness: Rapid re-housing programs should identify and collect data across a set of key performance indicators. By demonstrating their impact, programs can refine service provision and build support for greater investment in rapid re-housing efforts. The National Alliance to End Homelessness offers a performance evaluation and improvement toolkit for rapid re-housing programs.