无家可归预防项目能预防无家可归吗?来自一项随机对照试验的证据
Do Homelessness Prevention Programs Prevent Homelessness? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Review of Economics and Statistics · 2023 · [{"name": "David C. Phillips", "affiliation": ["University of Notre Dame"]}, {"name": "James X. Sullivan", "affiliation": ["University of Notre Dame"]}]
中文摘要
摘要 本文提供了来自一项随机对照试验的首个证据，该试验分离出财政援助对防止无家可归的影响。在本研究中，面临即将无家可归风险的个人和家庭获得了临时财政援助，被分配到处理组者的援助金额平均近2,000美元。我们的结果显示，该援助使无家可归率从4.1%的基准水平显著降低了3.8个百分点。对于有无家可归史且无子女的人群，该效应更大。尽管由于难以精准瞄准目标对象而存在成本效益方面的担忧，我们的估计表明，防止无家可归的收益超过了成本。
Abstract
Abstract This paper provides the first evidence from a randomized controlled trial isolating the impact of financial assistance to prevent homelessness. In this study, individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness were offered temporary financial assistance, averaging nearly $2,000 for those assigned to treatment. Our results show that this assistance significantly reduces homelessness by 3.8 percentage points from a base rate of 4.1%. The effects are larger for people with a history of homelessness and no children. Despite concerns about cost-effectiveness due to difficulty targeting, our estimates suggest that the benefits to homelessness prevention exceed costs.