Services

Need

Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation hired Harder+Company in partnership with The Urban Institute to assist the Foundation in understanding the impact of Family Permanent Supportive Housing (FPSH) as an approach for helping families transition out of homelessness and maintain residential stability.

This initiative involves the unique challenge of simultaneously meeting the complicated and varied housing and service needs of adults, their children, and ultimately, the family unity. While organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area continue to innovate in testing and adapting adult permanent supportive housing models, these housing and service providers have had little experience with children and youth services. FPSH in San Francisco is an emerging component of the homeless service system.

What We Did

Working in partnership with the FPSH providers, The Schwab Foundation, Harder+Company, and The Urban Institute developed a logic model that guided the subsequent development of data collection instruments and processes. An Evaluation Working Group consisting of volunteers from several of the provider organizations was established to provide ongoing feedback.

Over the course of the project, we conducted longitudinal interviews with families living in Supportive Housing, provider interviews, and focus groups with families living in San Francisco FPSH.

Results

As this time, only the baseline report has been submitted to the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation. Ultimately, the final report will be presented to a nationwide audience to share the successes and challenges of supportive housing specifically for families transitioning from homelessness.

Staff

• Aimee Crisostomo
• Clare Nolan

• First 5 Monterey County Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
• Community Law Enforcement and Recovery Program (CLEAR)
• Mental Health Services Act Planning & Evaluation
• First 5 Commission of San Diego County