The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and Research, engaged WRMA and its subcontractor, Abt Associates to develop information about homelessness prevention strategies. The goal was to identify and document information about communities that implemented effective, well-targeted, and community-wide homelessness prevention strategies and also had data to illustrate their effectiveness. The final report, Strategies for Preventing Homelessness, (published May, 2005) describes how prevention approaches were developed and used in six communities. The purpose of this report is to share this information with other communities that are interested in carrying out similar efforts. The study identified a number of promising prevention activities that are part of an overall community-wide strategy. These activities include:

1) Supportive services coupled with permanent housing, particularly when combined with effective discharge from institutions (especially mental hospitals);
2) Mediation in Housing Courts;
3) Cash assistance for rent or mortgage arrears; and
4) Rapid exit from shelters.

The report is available on the HUDUSER Web site at the following address:
Strategies for Preventing Homelessness