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

Ivis García,Keuntae Kim

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134840

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.

Highlights

The need for housing that is affordable to lower-income households has been steadily growing over the past several decades even before the Great Recession of 2007–2009, which devastated housing markets across the U.S and the globe [1]
The study utilized qualitative research methods to collect data regarding participants from three stakeholders related to the Rapid Rehousing Program (RRHP): (1) families experiencing homelessness who had participated from the RRHP program before, (2) current or former landlords leasing to program tenants, and (3) case managers and social service providers
The Connell et al (2014) study showed that people with mental health issues, whom struggle with homelessness, had feelings of relief and felt safer once they were housed

Summary

Introduction

The need for housing that is affordable to lower-income households has been steadily growing over the past several decades even before the Great Recession of 2007–2009, which devastated housing markets across the U.S and the globe [1]. Factors that have contributed to the increased affordable housing demand since the 1980s in countries like the U.S, Australia, and Germany, to mention a few, primarily include: deindustrialization, changes in household income, and the lack of affordable housing production [2]. The increasing number of refugee and immigrant households over the last four decades in the U.S, Canada, and Europe accounts for a major share in the demand for rental housing [3]. Demand for rental housing is increasing as baby boomers approach retirement and enter the affordable rental market. Public Health 2020, 17, 4840; doi:10.3390/ijerph17134840 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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