IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i13p4840-d380557.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“ I Felt Safe ”: The Role of the Rapid Rehousing Program in Supporting the Security of Families Experiencing Homelessness in Salt Lake County, Utah

Author

Listed:
  • Ivis García

    (Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 375 South 1530 East, Suite 235, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • Keuntae Kim

    (Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 375 South 1530 East, Suite 235, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

Abstract

Homelessness is a public health issue that many organizations are addressing through a Housing First Model. One such organization is The Road Home (TRH), which provides services to homeless individuals and families in Salt Lake County. TRH is perhaps best known for their emergency shelters, but the organization also administers the Rapid Rehousing Program (RRHP), designed to help families experiencing homelessness transition back into stable housing. Those experiencing homelessness tend to have high rates of chronic mental/physical disabilities as well as issues related to substance abuse. Having a home is the first step toward achieving some kind of stability in their lives. The RRHP allows families to find housing in the private rental market and will cover the initial costs and several months of rent for clients. While the program has been praised by policymakers and social service providers for helping homeless families find rental housing, there is no empirical research about participant perspectives regarding their residential (in)security. The research question of this article is: what is the role of the RRHP in supporting the security of families experiencing homelessness? Researchers collected qualitative data through focus groups and interviews with 31 participants, 23 families experiencing homelessness, two landlords, six case managers, and service providers. Lastly, we identify recommendations for program improvements based on information gathered from research participants. It is our hope that the information presented in this article can and will be used in a way that improves public health by increasing the residential security of families experiencing homelessness.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivis García & Keuntae Kim, 2020. "“ I Felt Safe ”: The Role of the Rapid Rehousing Program in Supporting the Security of Families Experiencing Homelessness in Salt Lake County, Utah," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4840-:d:380557
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/13/4840/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/13/4840/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Corinth, Kevin, 2017. "The impact of permanent supportive housing on homeless populations," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 69-84.
    2. Zlotnick, C. & Zerger, S. & Wolfe, P.B., 2013. "Health care for the homeless: What we have learned in the past 30 years and what's next," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 199-205.
    3. April Jackson & Bridget Callea & Nicholas Stampar & Abigail Sanders & Alberto De Los Rios & Jake Pierce, 2020. "Exploring Tiny Homes as an Affordable Housing Strategy to Ameliorate Homelessness: A Case Study of the Dwellings in Tallahassee, FL," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Thomas Byrne & Dan Treglia & Dennis P. Culhane & John Kuhn & Vincent Kane, 2016. "Predictors of Homelessness Among Families and Single Adults After Exit From Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Programs: Evidence From the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services ," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 252-275, January.
    5. Keuntae Kim & Ivis Garcia, 2019. "Why Do Homeless Families Exit and Return the Homeless Shelter? Factors Affecting the Risk of Family Homelessness in Salt Lake County (Utah, United States) as a Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-23, November.
    6. Connell, Janice & O'Cathain, Alicia & Brazier, John, 2014. "Measuring quality of life in mental health: Are we asking the right questions?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 12-20.
    7. Bassuk, E.L. & Buckner, J.C. & Weinreb, L.F. & Browne, A. & Bassuk, S.S. & Dawson, R. & Perloff, J.N., 1997. "Homelessness in female-headed families: Childhood and adult risk and protective factors," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(2), pages 241-248.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alison L. Weightman & Mark J. Kelson & Ian Thomas & Mala K. Mann & Lydia Searchfield & Simone Willis & Ben Hannigan & Robin J. Smith & Rhiannon Cordiner, 2023. "Exploring the effect of case management in homelessness per components: A systematic review of effectiveness and implementation, with meta‐analysis and thematic synthesis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(2), June.
    2. Canham, Sarah L. & Donovan, Morrison & Rose, Jeff & Jones, Shannon & Garcia, Ivis, 2023. "Transportation needs and mobility patterns of persons experiencing homelessness following shelter decentralization," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Sara Nourazari & Kristina Lovato & Suzie S. Weng, 2021. "Making the Case for Proactive Strategies to Alleviate Homelessness: A Systems Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Ivis García, 2024. "The Value of Reentry Housing, Zoning, and “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) Obstacles, and How to Overcome Them," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Angelina L. DeMarco & Rebecca Hardenbrook & Jeff Rose & Daniel L. Mendoza, 2020. "Air Pollution-Related Health Impacts on Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: Environmental Justice and Health Vulnerability in Salt Lake County, Utah," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-16, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guy Johnson & David C. Ribar & Anna Zhu, 2017. "Women's Homelessness: International Evidence on Causes, Consequences, Coping and Policies," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2017n07, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    2. Goodman, Sarena & Messeri, Peter & O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2016. "Homelessness prevention in New York City: On average, it works," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 14-34.
    3. Flouri, Eirini & Buchanan, Ann, 2004. "Childhood families of homeless and poor adults in Britain: A prospective study," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    5. Timothy M. Diette & David C. Ribar, 2018. "A Longitudinal Analysis Of Violence And Housing Insecurity," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(3), pages 1602-1621, July.
    6. Gurdak, Kristen & Bond, Lynden & Padgett, Deborah & Petering, Robin, 2022. "Transitioning to independent living: Experiences of homeless young adults in rapid rehousing," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2004. "Wrong person and wrong place: for homelessness, the conjunction is what matters," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, March.
    8. O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2019. "Homelessness research: A guide for economists (and friends)," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-25.
    9. William N. Evans & David C. Phillips & Krista Ruffini, 2021. "Policies To Reduce And Prevent Homelessness: What We Know And Gaps In The Research," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 914-963, June.
    10. Ivis García, 2024. "Understanding the Housing Preferences of Older Adults: Insights from a Study on Micro-Housing in Salt Lake City, U.S," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Brenna Bray & Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín & David A. Wiss & Christine E. Bray & Heather Zwickey, 2021. "Overeaters Anonymous: An Overlooked Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    12. Mzwandile A. Mabhala & Asmait Yohannes, 2019. "Being at the Bottom Rung of the Ladder in an Unequal Society: A Qualitative Analysis of Stories of People without a Home," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-19, November.
    13. Kevin C. Corinth & Grace Finley, 2017. "When the rich meet the poor: Interactions with the homeless in New York City," AEI Economics Working Papers 926367, American Enterprise Institute.
    14. Christine A. Walsh & Jennifer Hewson & Karen Paul & Cari Gulbrandsen & Dorothy Dooley, 2015. "Falling Through the Cracks," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(3), pages 21582440156, September.
    15. David A. Sleet & Louis Hugo Francescutti, 2021. "Homelessness and Public Health: A Focus on Strategies and Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-6, November.
    16. Brown, Molly & Klebek, Lauren & Chodzen, Gia & Scartozzi, Samantha & Cummings, Camilla & Raskind, Alejandro, 2018. "Housing status among single adults following Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program participation in Indianapolis," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 92-98.
    17. Anju Devianee Keetharuth & Elizabeth Taylor Buck & Catherine Acquadro & Katrin Conway & Janice Connell & Michael Barkham & Jill Carlton & Thomas Ricketts & Rosemary Barber & John Brazier, 2018. "Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Data in the Development of Outcome Measures: The Case of the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) Measures in Mental Health Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, June.
    18. Myra Piat & Kimberly Seida, 2018. "Supported housing for persons with serious mental illness and personal recovery: What do families think?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(8), pages 707-714, December.
    19. Anne Laporte & Stéphanie Vandentorren & Marc-Antoine Détrez & Caroline Douay & Yann Le Strat & Erwan Le Méner & Pierre Chauvin & The Samenta Research Group, 2018. "Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Addictions among Homeless People in the Greater Paris Area, France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    20. Lin-Yun Wang & Lan-Ping Lin & Yun-Cheng Chen & Tai-Wen Wang & Jin-Ding Lin, 2020. "Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among Middle-Aged and Older Homeless Adults Using the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4840-:d:380557. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.