Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Homelessness Solutions Program Essay

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Research Proposal Option: Proposal to Conduct an Evaluation(Evaluation Template)Proposed Outcomes Evaluation of the Maryland Department of Housing and CommunityDevelopment’s Homelessness Solutions ProgramHM893January 26, 2024Note: You are provided recommended page lengths per section to guide your writing efforts. Your entire paper should be a maximum of 30 pages (including Title Page, Abstract, References, and Appendices)Abstract (150 to 250 words maximum): The abstract should contain the following information:· What is the public health problem addressed?· What is the program/policy you plan to evaluate?· Who is the target population?· What is/are the main evaluation question(s)?· What is the evaluation design?· What are the expected implications of the evaluation?· What data will be collected and used to conduct the evaluation?· Where and when will the evaluation be conducted?Note: The abstract should be on a separate page after the title page and before Section 1.The proposed evaluation seeks to address the homelessness issue in Maryland. Point-in-time data showed that over 6,300 people in the state were homeless in 2020. While homelessness rates in the state have declined over the past decade, special populations such as veterans, chronically ill patients, and unaccompanied youth continue to be overrepresented among the homeless population. This evaluation seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the Maryland Homelessness Solution Program (HSP) in reducing homelessness among Marylanders. The target population is individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Maryland. The evaluation will be conducted between January 2024 and December 2025 at 10 homeless shelters across Baltimore City, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel Counties. The evaluation questions are: Compared to non-participants, are HSP participants more able to secure and maintain stable housing? How does their financial well-being compare with non-participants? Is the program accessible and relevant to the needs of homeless people? Are program participants satisfied with the services offered? The evaluation will follow a case-control design. It will use survey and interview data collected from 300 randomly selected participants (150 HSP participants and 150 non-participants) at baseline, program end, and at six months follow-up. The cases will come from 5 homeless shelters that receive HSP grants, and the controls from 5 that do not receive HSP grants. Descriptive statistics will be used to assess the program's effectiveness in reducing homelessness and participants' satisfaction with available services. The findings will inform public health policy by providing insights on designing effective homelessness prevention interventions.Keywords: health, homelessness, Maryland, community, program, case, control groupSection 1: Background/Rationale for Proposed Evaluation: This section should address the following elements (2-3 double spaced pages):1. What public health problem and/or issue does the program/policy address?2. Why is this problem or issue important?3. What does existing data demonstrate about the magnitude and potential health impacts of this problem or issue?4. What population(s) is affected by this public health problem/ issue?5. What has previous evaluation literature found regarding this problem? Use peer-reviewed references to summarize the findings from evaluations of similar programs or policies. Address the following elements:a. Describe your search methods, inclusion criteria, and studies that you reviewedb. Describe the overall evaluation findings, including the strengths and weaknesses of this work6. What are the gaps or limitations in the evaluation literature? How does your proposed evaluation address these issues?The proposed evaluation focuses on homelessness. The 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act defines homelessness as a situation where a family or individual lacks an adequate, regular, and fixed nighttime residence (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, 2023). This definition of homelessness includes persons living in transitional housing, emergency shelters, abandoned buildings, the streets, and other places not meant for habitation. Individuals who stand to lose their nighttime residence within 14 days or are fleeing domestic violence and lack the resources to obtain alternative housing are also considered homeless under the HEARTH Act of 2009 (SAMHSA, 2023).Data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that the number of homeless people in the United States (US) has risen by approximately 6 percent since 2017 (SAMHSA, 2023). Contrary to expectations, the COVID-19 pandemic that peaked in 2020 had no significant effect on the US homelessness rate (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023). According to a report by the Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness (2022), this is due to the increase in economic assistance programs and attempts to de-congregate shelters in line with social distancing requirements that took place at the time. Nonetheless, a point-in-time count conducted in 2022 showed that over 582,000 (9 in every 5,000) people were homeless across the United States (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023). Individual adults made up 72 percent of this population, while 28 percent lived in the streets and other unfit environments with their children (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023).In Maryland, point-in-time count data from 2020 showed that slightly over 6,300 people were homeless statewide, with Baltimore City accounting for the highest rates of homelessness at 35 percent (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Generally, the statewide annual count showed that Maryland had approximately 28,288 homeless people in 2020 (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Unfortunately, homelessness disproportionately affects special populations, including persons with disability, mentally ill individuals, veterans, unaccompanied in-parenting youth, and victims of domestic violence (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Twenty-one percent of homeless people in the state, as per the 2020 point-in-time count, were chronically homeless individuals who had been homeless for over a year and struggled with a physical disability, substance use disorder, or severe mental illness (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Homeless veterans made up 7.5 percent of the homeless population, while individuals experiencing domestic violence and unaccompanied homeless youth made up 5 percent and 4 percent of the homeless population, respectively (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022).Policymakers across the US need to institute ways of addressing homelessness because it increases the risk of mortality and reduces the average life expectancy of affected populations (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Studies have shown that homeless people report higher rates of injury-related death and violence than the general population (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022). Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (as cited in Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022) shows that approximately 243 homeless people died in Maryland in 2020. This translates to a death rate of 3,835 per 100,000 people for homeless populations, which is three times the death rate of the general Maryland population (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022).On average, homelessness reduces an individual's life expectancy by 30 years relative to the average person (Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2022).Besides mortality, homelessness is associated with a myriad of other adverse health outcomes. The most commonly-studied health outcomes among homeless populations include cardiovascular diseases (CVD), HIV and other infectious diseases, communicable diseases, opioid-related overdose, mental health problems, and mortality. A systematic review by Al-Shakarchi et al. (2020) sought to compare the risk of CVD in homeless and non-homeless populations using data from studies drawn from North America and Europe. The findings…

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…ResearchProposalOption:ProposaltoConductanEvaluation(EvaluationTemplate)ProposedOutcomesEvaluationoftheMarylandDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment’sHomelessnessSolutionsProgramHM893January26,2024Note:Youareprovidedrecommendedpagelengthspersectiontoguideyourwritingefforts.Yourentirepapershouldbeamaximumof30pages(includingTitlePage,Abstract,References,andAppendices)Abstract(150to250wordsmaximum):Theabstractshouldcontainthefollowinginformation:·Whatisthepublichealthproblemaddressed?·Whatistheprogram/policyyouplantoevaluate?·Whoisthetargetpopulation?·Whatis/arethemainevaluationquestion(s)?·Whatistheevaluationdesign?·Whataretheexpectedimplicationsoftheevaluation?·Whatdatawillbecollectedandusedtoconducttheevaluation?·Whereandwhenwilltheevaluationbeconducted?Note:TheabstractshouldbeonaseparatepageafterthetitlepageandbeforeSection1.TheproposedevaluationseekstoaddressthehomelessnessissueinMaryland.Point-in-timedatashowedthatover6,300peopleinthestatewerehomelessin2020.Whilehomelessnessratesinthestatehavedeclinedoverthepastdecade,specialpopulationssuchasveterans,chronicallyillpatients,andunaccompaniedyouthcontinuetobeoverrepresentedamongthehomelesspopulation.ThisevaluationseekstoevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheMarylandHomelessnessSolutionProgram(HSP)inreducinghomelessnessamongMarylanders.ThetargetpopulationisindividualsexperiencingoratriskofhomelessnessinMaryland.TheevaluationwillbeconductedbetweenJanuary2024andDecember2025at10homelesssheltersacrossBaltimoreCity,Baltimore,andAnneArundelCounties.Theevaluationquestionsare:Comparedtonon-participants,areHSPparticipantsmoreabletosecureandmaintainstablehousing?Howdoestheirfinancialwell-beingcomparewithnon-participants?Istheprogramaccessibleandrelevanttotheneedsofhomelesspeople?Areprogramparticipantssatisfiedwiththeservicesoffered?Theevaluationwillfollowacase-controldesign.Itwillusesurveyandinterviewdatacollectedfrom300randomlyselectedparticipants(150HSPparticipantsand150non-participants)atbaseline,programend,andatsixmonthsfollow-up.Thecaseswillcomefrom5homelesssheltersthatreceiveHSPgrants,andthecontrolsfrom5thatdonotreceiveHSPgrants.Descriptivestatisticswillbeusedtoassesstheprogram'seffectivenessinreducinghomelessnessandparticipants'satisfactionwithavailableservices.Thefindingswillinformpublichealthpolicybyprovidinginsightsondesigningeffectivehomelessnesspreventioninterventions.Keywords:health,homelessness,Maryland,community,program,case,controlgroupSection1:Background/RationaleforProposedEvaluation:Thissectionshouldaddressthefollowingelements(2-3doublespacedpages):1.Whatpublichealthproblemand/orissuedoestheprogram/policyaddress?2.Whyisthisproblemorissueimportant?3.Whatdoesexistingdatademonstrateaboutthemagnitudeandpotentialhealthimpactsofthisproblemorissue?4.Whatpopulation(s)isaffectedbythispublichealthproblem/issue?5.Whathaspreviousevaluationliteraturefoundregardingthisproblem?Usepeer-reviewedreferencestosummarizethefindingsfromevaluationsofsimilarprogramsorpolicies.Addressthefollowingelements:a.Describeyoursearchmethods,inclusioncriteria,andstudiesthatyoureviewedb.Describetheoverallevaluationfindings,includingthestrengthsandweaknessesofthiswork6.Whatarethegapsorlimitationsintheevaluationliterature?Howdoesyourproposedevaluationaddresstheseissues?Theproposedevaluationfocusesonhomelessness.The2009HomelessEmergencyAssistanceandRapidTransitiontoHousing(HEARTH)Actdefineshomelessnessasasituationwhereafamilyorindividuallacksanadequate,regular,andfixednighttimeresidence(SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration,SAMHSA,2023).Thisdefinitionofhomelessnessincludespersonslivingintransitionalhousing,emergencyshelters,abandonedbuildings,thestreets,andotherplacesnotmeantforhabitation.Individualswhostandtolosetheirnighttimeresidencewithin14daysorarefleeingdomesticviolenceandlacktheresourcestoobtainalternativehousingarealsoconsideredhomelessundertheHEARTHActof2009(SAMHSA,2023).DatafromtheNationalAlliancetoEndHomelessnessshowsthatthenumberofhomelesspeopleintheUnitedStates(US)hasrisenbyapproximately6percentsince2017(SAMHSA,2023).Contrarytoexpectations,theCOVID-19pandemicthatpeakedin2020hadnosignificanteffectontheUShomelessnessrate(NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness,2023).AccordingtoareportbytheMarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness(2022),thisisduetotheincreaseineconomicassistanceprogramsandattemptstode-congregatesheltersinlinewithsocialdistancingrequirementsthattookplaceatthetime.Nonetheless,apoint-in-timecountconductedin2022showedthatover582,000(9inevery5,000)peoplewerehomelessacrosstheUnitedStates(NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness,2023).Individualadultsmadeup72percentofthispopulation,while28percentlivedinthestreetsandotherunfitenvironmentswiththeirchildren(NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness,2023).InMaryland,point-in-timecountdatafrom2020showedthatslightlyover6,300peoplewerehomelessstatewide,withBaltimoreCityaccountingforthehighestratesofhomelessnessat35percent(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Generally,thestatewideannualcountshowedthatMarylandhadapproximately28,288homelesspeoplein2020(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Unfortunately,homelessnessdisproportionatelyaffectsspecialpopulations,includingpersonswithdisability,mentallyillindividuals,veterans,unaccompaniedin-parentingyouth,andvictimsofdomesticviolence(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Twenty-onepercentofhomelesspeopleinthestate,asperthe2020point-in-timecount,werechronicallyhomelessindividualswhohadbeenhomelessforoverayearandstruggledwithaphysicaldisability,substanceusedisorder,orseverementalillness(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Homelessveteransmadeup7.5percentofthehomelesspopulation,whileindividualsexperiencingdomesticviolenceandunaccompaniedhomelessyouthmadeup5percentand4percentofthehomelesspopulation,respectively(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).PolicymakersacrosstheUSneedtoinstitutewaysofaddressinghomelessnessbecauseitincreasestheriskofmortalityandreducestheaveragelifeexpectancyofaffectedpopulations(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Studieshaveshownthathomelesspeoplereporthigherratesofinjury-relateddeathandviolencethanthegeneralpopulation(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).DatafromtheOfficeoftheChiefMedicalExaminer(ascitedinMarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022)showsthatapproximately243homelesspeoplediedinMarylandin2020.Thistranslatestoadeathrateof3,835per100,000peopleforhomelesspopulations,whichisthreetimesthedeathrateofthegeneralMarylandpopulation(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Onaverage,homelessnessreducesanindividual'slifeexpectancyby30yearsrelativetotheaverageperson(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Besidesmortality,homelessnessisassociatedwithamyriadofotheradversehealthoutcomes.Themostcommonly-studiedhealthoutcomesamonghomelesspopulationsincludecardiovasculardiseases(CVD),HIVandotherinfectiousdiseases,communicablediseases,opioid-relatedoverdose,mentalhealthproblems,andmortality.AsystematicreviewbyAl-Shakarchietal.(2020)soughttocomparetheriskofCVDinhomelessandnon-homelesspopulationsusingdatafromstudiesdrawnfromNorthAmericaandEurope.ThefindingsshowedthattheriskofCVDandCVD-relatedmortalityamonghomelesspopulationswasthreetimesgreaterthanthatofnon-homelesspopulations(Al-Shakarchietal.,2020).SourcesattributethistothehighprevalenceofCVD-relatedriskfactorsamonghomelesspopulations,includingsmoking,useofillicitsubstances,andhighcholesterollevels(Al-Shakarchietal.,2020).StudieshavealsofoundapositiveassociationbetweenhomelessnessandtheriskofHIV,sexually-transmitteddiseases,andHepatitisC(Arumetal.,2021).Thisisbecausehomelessindividualsaremorelikelytoengageinriskybehaviorssuchassharingofdrug-injectionneedlesandirresponsiblesexualbehavior(Arumetal.,2021).Atthesametime,homelessnessincreasestheriskofcommunicablediseasessuchasinfluenza,tuberculosis,mosquito-borneillnesses,skininfections,andHepatitisAbecauseoflimitedaccesstovaccination,lowhealthliteracylevels,livingincongregatesettings,andlowlevelsofpersonalhygiene(Liuetal.,2020).Homelesspopulationsarealsoassociatedwithhigheruseofillicitsubstancesandopioidoverdose,aswellasopioid-relateddeaths(Fineetal.,2022).Forinstance,65percentofdeathsreportedamonghomelessindividualsin2020wereduetodrugoverdoseandotherrelatedcomplications,withopioidoverdosesaccountingfor88percentofthesedeaths(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).InastudybyFineetal.(2022)onmortalityratesamong60,092homelessadultsbetween2003and2018,12percentofparticipantsdiedduringthestudyperiod,withdrugoverdosesaccountingfor25percentofthereporteddeaths.Studieshavealsofoundhomelessindividualstohavehigherprevalenceofmentalhealthdisordersthantheirnon-homelesscounterparts(Gutwinskietal.,2021).AsystematicreviewbyGutwinskietal.(2021)foundthatapproximately12percentofhomelessindividualshadeitherschizophreniaspectrumdisordersormajordepression,comparedto0.7percentofthenon-homelesspopulation.Thestudyalsofoundahigherriskofmortalityamonghomelessindividualswithmentalhealthdisordersascomparedtothegeneralpopulation(Gutwinskietal.,2021).Theseadversehealthoutcomesnecessitateprogramsorpoliciesaimedatreducinghomelessness.Theseprogramsareoftenimplementedbygovernmentagenciesornon-governmentalorganizations.Manystudieshavesoughttoevaluatetheeffectivenessofinterventionsthatfocusonpreventingorreducinghomelessness.Toinformthisevaluation,asystematicreviewofpeer-reviewedarticlesonhomelessnesspreventioninterventionswasconducted.ThesearchstrategytargeteddatabasessuchasCochrane,PubMed,andScienceDirect,withinclusioncriterialimitedtostudiespublishedinthelasttenyears,conductedintheUS,andevaluatinghomelessnesspreventionorinterventionprograms.ThereviewidentifiedseveralstudiesthatevaluatedprogramssimilartotheHSP(Dwyeretal.,2023;Philips&Sullivan,2022;Aubryetal.,2020).Generally,thestudiesfoundthathomelessnesspreventionprogramsandinterventionswereeffectiveinpreventingandreducinghomelessness(Dwyeretal.,2023;Philips&Sullivan,2022;Aubryetal.,2020).However,thestudiesalsofoundsomeinterventionsorcombinationsofinterventionstobemoreeffectivethanothers.Forinstance,Dwyeretal.(2023)evaluatedtheimpactofunconditionalcashtransfersandcoachingsupportprogramsinincreasinghousingstabilityamonghomelessindividuals.Thestudyfoundthatunconditionalcashtransfers,coupledwithcoachingsupportsandworkshopsonplan-making,goal-setting,andself-affirmation,improvedhousingstabilityforhomelesspeoplewithinthreemonthsbetterthancashtransferprogramsalone.Similarly,PhilipsandSullivan(2022)evaluatedtheeffectivenessoffinancialassistanceandcasemanagementprogramsinreducingandpreventinghomelessnessamongvulnerablepopulations.Thestudyfoundthatfinancialassistancecoupledwithcasemanagementforhomelesspeopleincreasedhousingstabilityandreducedevictionsmorethanmonetaryassistanceprogramsalone.Theprimaryweaknessoftheseevaluationsisthattheyfocusonincomeinterventionprogramsalone,anddisregardsupportivehousingprograms,whicharealsoquitecommon.Intheirsystematicreview,Aubryetal.(2020)addressthisweaknessbystudyingtheimpactofbothhousingsupportandincomeassistanceinterventionstargetinghomelessindividuals.Thestudyfoundthatcomparedtousualcare,housingsupportprogramsincreaselong-termhousingstabilityatarateof1.13.Atthesametime,incomeassistancecoupledwithcasemanagementimprovedthenumberofdaysahomelessindividualishousedbyeightdaysrelativetousualcare(Aubryetal.,2020).Theprimarystrengthofthisbodyofworkisthatthestudiesusecomprehensivedatacollectionmethods,andincluderigorousevaluationdesigns,bothofwhichenhancethecredibilityofthefindings.However,thereviewedstudieshavealimitedscope,focusingononeortwointerventions.TheproposedassessmentseekstoevaluatetheHSP,whichincorporatesarangeofdiverseinterventionstargetedathomelesspeople.Moreover,thereviewedstudiesdonotfocusspecificallyonMaryland,anditwouldbeinterestingtocheckwhetherthefindingsofstudiesconductedinotherenvironmentscouldbereplicatedinthestateofMaryland.Section2:ProgramorPolicyDescription:Thissectionprovidesdetailedinformationabouttheprogram/policythatyouareevaluating.Thissectionshouldincludethefollowingelements:(4-8doublespacedpages):1.ProgramorPolicyPurpose(GoalsandObjectives)a.Whatarethegoalsandobjectivesoftheprogram/policythatyouareevaluating?Whatarethegoalsandobjectivesofyourevaluation?Goalsarebroadstatementsofwhatyouwanttoachievewiththeproposedevaluation.Objectivesarespecificstepsthatestablishhowthegoalwillbeachieved.Objectivesshouldbespecific,measurable,achievable,relevant,andtime-based(i.e.,SMART).Bothgoalsandobjectivesshouldbealignedwiththemainevaluationquestion(s).ExampleofGoalandSMARTObjectiveGoal1:IncreasehealtheducatorknowledgeaboutobesityamongHispanicyouth.Objective1.1:Conductobesitytrainingclassesresultingin80%ofhealtheducatorscompletingthecourse“ObesityinamongHispanicadolescents”byMay31,2021.Note:Repeatthisformatifyouhavemoregoals/objectives.TheprogramtobeevaluatedistheHomelessnessSolutionsProgram(HSP),whichisadministeredbytheMarylandDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment(DHCD)asastatewideresponsetothehomelessnessissuethatcontinuestoaffectthestate(HSPPolicyGuide,2022).TheprogramprovidesfundingandtechnicalsupporttoLocalHomelessCoalitions(LHC)andContinuumsofCare(COCs),coordinatingresourcesandfundingforlocalserviceprovidersservingthehomelesspopulation.ToqualifyforagrantundertheHSP,anapplicantmustbealocalgovernmentornon-profitentityofferingaclient-centeredapproachtohomelessservicesandcompliantwithanti-discriminatorypolicies(HSPPolicyGuide,2022).HSPgranteesandsub-granteesmustalsoimplementformalgrievanceprocedures,provesoundfinancialmanagementofresources,andimplementasoundhomelessmanagementinformationsystem(HMIS)(HSPPolicyGuide,2022).TheHSPpursuesthefollowinggoalsandobjectivesasstatedintheHSPPolicyGuide(2022)andtheDHCDConsolidatedPlan(2020),respectively:Goal1:Reducethenumberoffamilies/individualsatriskofhomelessnessbyprovidinghomelesspreventionassistanceandshelterdiversion.Objective1.1:Atleast50percentofunshelteredhomelessfamilies/individualsreachedthroughoutreachprogramsexittosafeemergencysheltersbytheendof2024.Objective1.2:100percentofhouseholds/individualswhofallhomelessasaresultoflosingtheirpermanentresidencesuccessfullyexittosafesheltersbytheendof2024Goal2:Reducethedurationanindividualorhouseholdremainshomelessbysupportingtheminaccessingpermanenthousing.Objective2.1:Atleast80percentofpreviouslyhomelessindividuals/householdsheldinemergencysheltersandinterimhousingoptionswilltransiteffectivelytopermanenthousingbytheendof2024.Objective2.2:Atleast90percentofhouseholds/individualswhofallhomelessduetolosingtheirpermanentresidencewillsuccessfullyexittoalternativepermanenthousingbytheendof2024.Goal3:Reducethenumberofindividualsorhouseholdsfallingbacktohomelessnessbyconnectingthemtocommunity-basedresources,naturalsupportnetworks,andincomesupports.Objective3.1:Atleast10percentofadultHSPbeneficiariesreportincreasedincomebytheendof2024duetotheservicesandsupporttheyreceive.Objective3.2:Atleast25percentofHSPbeneficiariesreportimprovedmentalhealthbytheendof2024.2.Needa.Whatistheneedforyourevaluation?Howdoyouexpectittocontributetopublichealth?WhiletherehasbeenanotabledropinhomelessnessratesinMarylandoverthepastseveralyears,homelessnesscontinuestodisproportionatelyaffectspecialpopulations,includingveterans,peoplewithphysicaldisabilities,mentallyillindividuals,andunaccompaniedyouth(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2020).Forinstance,the2020point-in-timecountrevealedthatveteransmadeupcloseto8percentofthehomelesspopulation,whilechronicallyhomelesspersonswithsomedisablingconditionmadeup21percentofthehomelesspoint-in-timecount(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2020).ThisdataaccentuatestheneedtoevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheHSPinreducingorpreventinghomelessnessamongspecialpopulationsinMaryland.AccordingtoSmithandOry(2014),programevaluationservestwopurposesinpublichealthpromotionandeducation:toassesstheeffectivenessofaprogramorpolicyofinterestanditsinterventionsandtoidentifyareasofweaknessthatcouldbeusedtoimproveoverallprogramquality.TheproposedevaluationwouldhelppolicymakersdeterminehoweffectivetheHSPistothetargetpopulation,includingtherelevanceofitsinterventionstoselectedspecialpopulations.Thiswouldincreaseefficiencybyensuringprogramimplementersidentifyinterventionsthatworkandcommitmoreresourcestomakehomelessnessnon-recurring,brief,andrareforallMarylanders(HSPPolicyGuide,2022).Atthesametime,theevaluationwouldhelpimproveprogramqualitybyindicatingthequalityofdeployedhumanresources,theirareasofstrength,andareasrequiringcapacity-buildingtoenhanceoverallquality(Smith&Ory,2014).Generally,theevaluationcontributespositivelytothefieldofpublichealthbyprovidinginsightsonwhatinterventionsmayormaynotworkeffectivelyinahomelesspreventionprogram.Thefindingsoftheevaluationexercisewillgoalongwaytowardsguidingprogrammanagersrunningsimilarprogramsonbestpractices,thusminimizingtheriskoferrorsandwastage.3.Program/PolicyContexta.Whatsocial,cultural,andpoliticalcontext/environmentexistsforthepublichealthproblem/issuethatyouproposetoevaluate?Whatcontextual/environmentalfactorsmayinfluenceoraffectyourevaluation?AsMabhalaetal.(2017)pointout,"Homelessnessisamorecomplexsocialandpublichealthphenomenonthantheabsenceofaplacetolive"(p.2).Homelessnessistheresultofacombinationofstructuralforces(lackofaccesstomentalhealthservices,racialdisparities,poverty,andlackofaffordablehousing)andsocialfactorssuchaspoormentalhealth,familybreakdown,domesticviolence,andaddiction(Magoetal.,2013).Studieshaveshownthatamajorityofhomelesspeoplehavebeenvictimsoftraumaticexperiencesandsocialdisadvantagefromchildhood,includingdysfunctionalfamilies,neglect,emotionalandsexualabuse,physicalabuse,lackofpsychologicalsupport,anddisruptedschooling(Mabhalaetal.,2017).AllthesefactorsserveaspossibledriversofhomelessnessamongMarylandersandmaynotbeaddressedbyprovidinghousingalone.TheHSP'seffectivenesswilldependonhowrelevantitsinterventionsaretothespecificdriversofhomelessnessinthestate.WhiletheHSPmaybeeffectiveinlinkinghomelesspeoplewithinterimorpermanenthomes,failuretoeffectivelyaddressthesocialcontextofhomelessnessmayresultinhighratesofpeoplefallingbackintohomelessnessuponexitingtheprogram.Atthesametime,structuralfactorssuchasineffectivehousingassistanceprograms,budgetcutsaffectingfederalhousing,andrentincreasesmayallincreasehomelessnessrates(Mabhalaetal.,2017).ThesefactorsareoftendependentonthepoliticalenvironmentandmayaffecttheoperationsoftheHSP,reducingitsoveralleffectiveness.Thus,itwouldbeprudenttoassessthepossibleeffectofthesefactorsduringtheevaluationtoobtainaholisticviewoftheprogram'ssufficiencyandrelevance.4.Targetpopulationa.Whatpopulationdoestheprogram/policytarget?Generally,theHSPtargetsthehomelesspopulationinMaryland.However,theprogramoffersdiversesupportandservicestargetingdifferentsegmentsofthehomelesspopulation.TheHSP'ssupportforhomelessindividuals/householdsisdividedintothreeareas:Outreach,EmergencyShelter,andHousingStabilization(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).Outreachservicestargetunshelteredhomelesspeopletolinkthemwithcriticalhealthservices,housing,andemergencyshelters(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).EmergencyShelterservicestargetunshelteredindividualslivinginplacesunfitforhabitation,linkingthemwithovernightshelters(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).TheHSPsupportsthesepopulationsindirectlybyprovidingessentialservicesduringtheirstayinsheltersandcontributingtowardstheshelters'operatingcosts.HousingStabilizationfocusesonpreventingpeoplefromfallingbackintohomelessnessbysupportingtheminmovingintopermanenthousing(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).TheHousingStabilizationServicessegmentisdividedintothreesupportareasthattargetdifferentpopulations(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).Thefirstarea,RapidRehousing,targetshouseholdsandindividualswholackadequate,regular,andfixednighttimeresidences(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).Thesecondarea,HomelessnessPrevention,targetsindividualswithannualincomesbelow30percentofthemedianincome.Theyriskbecominghomelessbutlackthesupportandresourcestopreventit(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).Finally,thePermanentHousingCaseManagementsegmenttargetsindividualsinpermanenthousingwhoriskfallinghomelessfordiversereasons(HSPQuickReferenceGuide,2022).Theeligibilitycriteriaforanindividual/tobenefitforHSPservicesaspertheHSPQuickReferenceGuide2022)is:i)Theindividual/householdlivesinaplaceunfitforhumanhabitationorisinatemporarylivingarrangementsuchasamotel,transitionalhousing,orcongregateshelterpaidforbygovernmentprogramsorcharitableorganizations.ii)Theindividual/household’sannualincomeislessthan30percentofthemedianfamilyincome.iii)Theindividual/householdlackssufficientsupportnetworksandresourcestomaintainstablehousingwithouttheHSP’sintervention.ThesecriteriadefinewhomayormayormaynotbenefitfromHSPservices.ToeffectivelyevaluatetheimpactoftheHSP,thesamecriteriawillbeusedtodeterminewhoistobeincludedintheevaluationaspartofthecontrolgroup.One’sannualincome,currentlivingarrangement,andabilitytomaintainstablehousingareconfoundingvariablesthatmayaffecthousingstabilityamongthecontrols,leadingtomisleadingfindings.Toavoidthis,theevaluatorswillensurethatcontrolgroupparticipantsmatchHSPparticipantsinregardtotheconfoundingvariables(Rosales&Atroshi,2023).Thus,controlgroupparticipantswillonlybeeligibletotakepartintheevaluationiftheirannualincomesarelessthan30percentofthemedianfamilyincomeof$98,461inMarylandState,iftheyarelivinginthestreetsorinatemporarylivingarrangement,andiftheylackaccesstosupportsandresourcesneededtoobtainstablehousing.Controlswhodonotmeetthesecriteriawillbeexcludedfromtheevaluation.Thiswillensurethatcasesandcontrolsarewithincomparablelevels(Rosales&Atroshi,2023).5.StageofProgramorPolicya.Howlonghastheprogram/policybeeninplace?b.Isitintheplanningorimplementationstage?TheHPSwasinstitutedin2017followingadecisionbyMaryland’sagenciestodevelopacentralagencytocoordinateactivitiesofLocalHomelessCoalitions(LHC)andcontinuumsofCare(COCs)acrossthestate(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).TheroleoftheHSPwastooverseehomelessnessprogramsstatewideandtoensurethattheyalignwithfederalandnationalbestpractices(MarylandInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness,2022).Theformativeyears2017to2019servedastheplanningphasefortheHSP.Thisperiodwascharacterizedbysettinggoalsandobjectives,definingtheprojectscope,anddevelopingtheDHCDConsolidatedStrategicPlan2020to2024.Theprogramiscurrentlyintheimplementationphase,guidedbytheframework,milestones,andtargetslaidoutintheconsolidatedstrategicplan2020-2024(DHCDConsolidatedStrategicPlan,2020).6.Resources/Inputsa.Whatresourcesareavailabletosupportyourevaluation(e.g.,staff,space,technology,money)?Theevaluationrequiresfinancialresourcesofatleast$669,300.80.Thesecoverstaffingcostsandbenefits,stafftrainingcosts,andfinancingofequipmentandsupplies.Inequipmentandsupplies,$43,000willberequiredtocoveremergencyclothingorfoodvouchers,rentalassistancevouchers,housingsuppliesandfurniturevouchers,andparticipantincentives.Financesarenecessaryforstaffsalariesandbenefits,amountingto$620,760.80,andanadditional$5,600isrequiredtofinancetrainingsessionsforcasemanagersengagedintheevaluation.Theevaluationwillengagetwofull-timestaffandelevenpart-timestaffinhumanresources.Theevaluationwillemployaprojectdirectorandprojectassistantonafull-timebasis.Theprojectdirectorwillserveastheprimarycontactpersonandwillberesponsibleforrecruitingcasemanagers,trainingconsultants,andtheprogramanalystandoverseeingtheevaluationprocess.Theprojectassistantwillassistinaccountingandrecord-keeping,dataentry,andcoordinatingandschedulingtrainingsessions.Thepart-timestaffwillincludetencasemanagersandaprogramanalyst.Thecasemanagerswillberesponsibleforconductingassessmentsandofferingcasemanagementservices,whiletheprogramanalystwillcollectandanalyzedata.Theevaluationwilladditionallyrequireofficespacefromwhichthestaffwillcarryouttheirduties.TheDHCDagreedtoprovideofficespace(2,200squarefeet)fortheevaluation.Finally,theevaluationteamwillrequiretechnologicalequipment,includingcomputers(threedesktopcomputersandonelaptopfortheprojectdirector),tentabletsforthecasemanagers,anofficeprinter,andaprojectorformeetings.7.Outputsa.Whatproducts/outputswillyouproduceasaresultoftheplannedevaluation?Outputsarethedirectimmediateresultsofimplementingacertainactivity(Scott,2023).Outputsaredirectlyrelatedtoactivities.OneoftheactivitiesthattheHSPusestoreduceandpreventhomelessnessisoutreachthattargetspeoplelivinginthestreetsandotherplacesunfitforhumanhabitationwiththeaimoflinkingthemwithemergencyshelters.Theimmediateresultofthisactivityisthathomelessindividuals/householdslivinginunfitplaceslearnabouttheHSPanditsservicesandaccepttomovetoemergencyshelters.Declinesintheproportionofhomelesspeoplelivinginunfitareaswillserveasanindicatorthattheoutreachprogramiseffective.Uponmovingtheseindividuals/householdsoutofareasunfitforhabitation,theHSPcarriesoutarangeofotherinterventionsincludingassessmentstoidentifytheirincomelevels,financialliteracy,andhousingneeds;short-termfinancialassistance;counselingandfinancialeducationservices,aswellaslong-termsupportiveandhousingservices.Thedirectresults/outputsoftheseinterventionsarethathomelessindividualsandhouseholdshaveincreasedaccesstosafeandaffordablehousingasaresultofthefinancialsupportstheyreceive,haveabetterunderstandingofhowtomanagetheirfinances,andhaveimprovedpsychologicalhealthasaresultofthecounselingservicestheyreceivefromtheHSP.SuccessintherealizationoftheseoutputswouldbeindicatedbyincreasesinthelevelsofHSPparticipants’financialliteracylevelsandimprovedpsychologicalwell-beinguponjoiningtheprogram.8.Outcomesa.Whataretheevaluation’sintendedoutcomes(short-term,immediate,andlong-term)?b.Howdotheseintendedoutcomesalignwiththeoverallprogram’sorpolicy’sgoal(s)?Outcomesarethemid-termresultsofimplementingagivenactivity.Outcomesareonlyevidentaftersometime.Intheshort-term,oneoftheoutcomesrealizedbytheHSPisincreasedaccesstopermanenthomesasaresultofthelong-termsupportsofferedtoprogramparticipants.Atthesametime,participantsareabletoapplytheirfinancialliteracyskillsinmakingproperbudgeting,investment,andfinancialmanagementdecisions,leadingtoincreasedincomestreamsandgreaterabilitytosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Additionally,HSPparticipantsareabletousetheirimprovedpsychologicalwell-beingtoimprovethewaytheyrelatewithothers(socialskills)andtheirabilitytosecureandmaintainemployment.Ultimatelyintheshort-term,saybytheendofthefirstsixmonthsofHSPparticipation,individualswoulddemonstratealowerriskoffallingbacktohomelessness.Insodoing,theHSPrealizesitsgoalofreducingthenumberofindividualsorhouseholdsreturningtohomelessness.Intheintermediateperiod,HSPadvocatesforeffectivehomelessnesspreventioninterventionsamongcommunitymembersandstakeholderstoensureitspartnersimplementeffectiveinterventions.Thisadvocacyultimatelyminimizesthedurationthatindividualsstayhomelessandtheriskofbeneficiariesfallingbacktohomelessness.Further,theHSPwouldincreasecollaborationamongserviceprovidersworkingwithhomelessindividualstoensurethatmorehomelesspeople,especiallyinmarginalizedareas,benefitfromHSPinterventions.Byincreasingitsreachthroughincreasedcollaborationwithlocalserviceproviders,theHSPisabletorealizeitsgoalofreducingthenumberofindividualsandhouseholdsatriskofhomelessnessorfacinghomelessness.Inthelong-term,HSPparticipantsreportsustainablehousingstability,whichistheabilitytomaintainstablehousingintheabsenceoftheHSP.Ultimately,inequalityandpovertyratesamongHSPparticipantsdeclineastheyaremoreabletosecureandmaintainemploymentortorunsuccessfulbusinessventures.Finally,thequalityoflifeamongHSPparticipantswillimprove,leadingtobetterhealthandmorehappiness.9.LogicModel--Thisisagraphicaldepictionofthecomponentsthatyouareevaluatingandhowtheyalignwithanticipatedoutcomes.[Thereisanexampleatendofdocumentandtemplateprovidedinthecourse]Alogicmodelincludesthefollowingelements:a.Inputsb.Activitiesc.ExpectedOutputsd.Outcomes(short-term,intermediate,andlong-term)InputsActivitiesOutputsOutcomesShort-TermIntermediateLong-TermFundingallocatedtoHSPStaffandvolunteerstrainedtoworkwithhomelessparticipantsPartnershipswithstakeholdersAccesstoaffordablehousingAccesstofinancialeducationresourcesEvaluationspecialisttoassistwithprogramplanninganddatacollectionOutreachandengagementtoidentifyandconnectwithindividualsandfamiliesexperiencinghomelessnessAssessmentofparticipants'needs,includinghousing,income,andfinancialliteracyDeliveryofshort-termfinancialassistance,suchasrentalandutilitypayments,topreventorendhomelessnessDeliveryoflong-termhousingandsupportiveservicestohelpparticipantsmaintainhousingstabilityandimprovetheirfinancialsituationDeliveryoffinancialeducationandcounselingservicestohelpparticipantsbuildfinancialliteracyandachievetheirfinancialgoalsOutreachprogramssuccessfullyidentifyandlinkindividualsandhouseholdsexperiencinghomelessnesstoHSPservicesTheavailableassessmentsaccuratelyidentifyhomelessindividuals’income,housingneeds,andfinancialliteracyShort-termfinancialassistanceprovidedtohomelessindividualsandhouseholdssuccessfullyincreasesaccesstosafeandaffordablehousing.Long-termhousingandsupportiveservicesdeliveredtohomelessindividualsandfamiliessuccessfullyincreaseaccesstopermanenthousing.Counselingandfinancialservicesofferedtohomelessindividualseffectivelyimprovetheirmentalhealthandfinancialliteracy.IncreasednumberofindividualsandfamiliesreceivingservicesthroughHSPIncreasedhousingstabilityforprogramparticipantsImprovedfinancialliteracyforprogramparticipantsIncreasedaccesstoaffordableandsafehousingforprogramparticipantsImprovedpsychologicalwell-beingforprogramparticipants.ReducedratesofhomelessnessforprogramparticipantsinMarylandIncreasedknowledgeandunderstandingofeffectivehomelessnesssolutionsamongstakeholdersandcommunitymembersIncreasedcollaborationamonghousingandserviceproviderstoaddresshomelessnessinMarylandSustainablehousingstabilityandfinancialwell-beingforHSPparticipantsReducedratesofpovertyandinequalityamongHSPparticipants.ImprovedoverallqualityoflifeamongHSPparticipantsSection3:EvaluationFocus:Thissectionprovidesinformationonhowyouwilldesignyourevaluation.Thissectionshouldincludethefollowingelements(1-2doublespacedpages):1.EvaluationQuestion(s):a.Whatspecificquestionsdoyouintendtoanswerthroughyourevaluation?Theproposedevaluationseekstoanswerthefollowingcrucialquestions:a)Comparedtonon-participants,areHSPparticipantsmoreabletosecureandmaintainstablehousing?b)Howdoesthefinancialwell-beingofHSPparticipantscomparewithnon-participantsatprogramstart,end,andatsix-monthfollow-up?c)Istheprogramaccessibleandrelevanttothediverseneedsofhomelesspeople?d)AreprogramparticipantsconsistentlysatisfiedwiththesupportandservicestheyreceivefromtheHSP?2.Stakeholders:a.Whoarethestakeholders?Whowillusetheevaluationfindings?b.Whatrolewillstakeholdersplayindevelopingthisevaluationproposal?c.Howdoyouplantoengagethesestakeholderswhenimplementingthisevaluationproposal(e.g.,participatingindatacollection,interpretationoffindings)?Thestakeholdersinthisevaluationcanbecategorizedintoprimaryandsecondarystakeholders.Primarystakeholdershaveadirectstakeintheevaluation,andincludeHSPparticipants,theDHCDboard,andstaffworkingdirectlyintheHSP.Secondarystakeholdersareindirectlyaffectedbytheevaluationfindings.TheyincludeHSPgranteesandsub-grantees(theLocalHomelessCoalitions(LHC)andContinuumsofCare(COCs)thatworkwiththeHSP),funders,andlocalcommunities.TheevaluationfindingswillbecrucialtotheDHCDanditsstaff,granteesandsub-grantees,fundersoftheHSP,andlocalcommunities.TotheDHCDanditsstaff,theevaluationfindingswillprovideinsightsintotheoverallqualityandeffectivenessoftheHSP'shomelessnesssolutionsandpossibleareasofimprovement.Thiswillhelpthemdeterminewhatworksandwhatdoesnotworkeffectivelyandidentifyareasofimprovementtofacilitatetherealizationofpolicygoals.TheHSPmanagementcouldusetheevaluationfindingstoanalyzeprogramstaffperformanceandidentifyareasthatrequirecapacityenhancement(Harris,2016).Granteesandsub-granteesoftheHSPinteractdirectlywiththeHSPparticipants.Theevaluationfindingswillindicatehowrelevanttheservicesandsupportsofferedbygranteesandsub-granteesare.Itwillalsoindicatehowsatisfiedtheirbeneficiariesarewiththeservicesandsupporttheyreceive.Tothefederalgovernment,theprimaryfunderoftheHSP,theevaluationfindingswillindicatewhetherornottheprogramisworthwhilebymeasuringitseffectivenessinreducinghomelessnessinMaryland.Harris(2016)notesthatengagingstakeholdersinprogramevaluationgoesalongwaytowardcreatingbuy-inandminimizingresistanceincasethereisaneedforchangestoenhanceprogramqualityandeffectiveness.Thus,stakeholderswillbeengagedindevelopingtheevaluationproposalanditsimplementation.Indevelopingtheproposal,stakeholders,particularlyprogramstaff,volunteers,grantees,andsub-grantees,willdesigndatacollectiontoolsanddeterminewhattoincludeinthesurvey/interviewstoassessthequalityofHSPinterventions.Duringtheimplementationphase,stakeholderssuchasrepresentativesofCOCs,LHCs,andprogramstaffwillbeengagedininterpretinganddrawingconclusionsfromtheevaluationfindings.Finally,astakeholderforumwillbeorganizedwithrepresentativesofallrelevantstakeholderstodisseminatetheprojectfindings.Thestakeholderswillbeexpectedtodisseminatetheevaluationfindingstotheircolleaguesintheirrespectiveagenciesandorganizations.3.EvaluationDesign:a.Whatisthedesignforthisevaluation(e.g.,experimental,pre-postwithcomparisongroup,timeseries,case-study,post-testonly)?b.Whywasthisdesignselected?Whatarethestrengthsandlimitationsofthisdesign?Theevaluationusesacase-controlevaluationdesign.AccordingtoTennyetal.(2023),acase-controldesignprovidesaneffectivemeanstostudyfactorsassociatedwithrareoutcomesordiseasesofinterest.Itisoftenusedasanalternativetolongitudinalapproacheswhensuchanapproachwouldrequirelengthyandlargestudiesthatarenotfeasibletoconduct(Tennyetal.,2023).TheproposedevaluationseekstoinvestigatehowHSPparticipationaffectshousingstability(outcomeofinterest)amonghomelessindividuals.AlongitudinaldesignthatinvolvescollectingrepeatdataonhousingstabilityfromalargenumberofHSPparticipantsoveralongperiodoftimewouldbethemostappropriatedesign.However,suchadesignmaybeextremelycostlyandcomplextoimplement,especiallywiththedifficultiesinvolvedinfollowingupHSPparticipantslongaftertheyhaveexitedtheprogram.Thecase-controldesignprovidesaplausiblealternativetothelongitudinaldesigninthiscase.Thecase-controldesigninvolvesselectingcases(groupofindividualswiththeoutcomeofinterest)andcontrols(anothergroupwithsimilarcharacteristicstothecases,butwithouttheoutcomeofinterest)andthencomparingetiologicalfactorstodetermineifexposuresoccurmorecommonlyinthecasesthancontrols(Tennyetal.,2023).Ifthecasesreportamorecommonoccurrenceoftheexposuresthanthecontrols,onecouldconcludethatthereisanassociationbetweentheexposuresandtheoutcomeofinterest(Tennyetal.,2023).Thecase-controldesignthusprovidesalesscostlyandlesscomplexalternativetothelongitudinaldesigninthiscase.Usingthecase-controldesign,theevaluatorwillcomparetheoutcomesofHSPparticipants(cases)withnon-participants(controls)todeterminewhethertheprogrameffectivelyreducestheriskofhomelessnessamongitsbeneficiaries.ThecontrolgroupwillincludehomelessindividualswhofrequentthefiveparticipatingsheltersthatdonotreceiveHSPgrants,yetmeettheHSPeligibilitycriteria.ThecaseswillbeobtainedfromfivehomelesssheltersthatreceiveHSPfunding.Comparisonwillbebasedonfinancialliteracyandhousingstabilityscoresbeforejoiningtheprogram,whenonecompletestheprogram,andsixmonthsafterexitingtheprogram.Thiswillenabletheevaluatorstoassesshowindividuals’riskofhomelessnessprogressesatthethreedifferentpointsintime.Thecase-controldesignhasseveraladvantagesorstrengths.First,itprovidesanappropriatemeanstostudyrareoutcomesorconditions(Tennyetal.,2023).Ifanoutcome,condition,ordiseaseisveryrare,itmaytakealongtimebeforearesearchercanaccruesufficientcasestostudy(Tennyetal.,2023).Insuchcases,case-controldesignsprovideaplausiblealternative,allowingaresearchertoidentifycasesandcontrolsandstudyvariousexposurestodeterminewhichonesaremorecommonamongthecasesthancontrols.Thismakescase-controldesignsmorecost-effectivethanlongitudinalorcohortresearchdesigns.Anotherstrengthofthecase-controldesignisthatitallowsonetostudymultiplefactorsorexposuresatthesametime(Tennyetal.,2023).Incaseofadisease,thecase-controldesignallowsonetostudymultipleriskfactorsatthesametimetoidentifywhichoneshaveaneffectontheoutcomevariable.Thismakesthedesignlesscostlyandtime-consuming.Theprimarylimitationofthecase-controldesignisthatitissusceptibletorecallandselectionbias(Tennyetal.,2023).Recallbiasistheriskthatindividualswiththeoutcome(cases)willrecallthepresenceofexposuresbetterthanthecontrols,leadingtowrongconclusionsthatassociationsexistwhentheyactuallydonotexist(Tennyetal.,2023).Atthesametime,oneofthepreconditionsforacase-controlstudytoyieldaccurateresultsisthatthecontrolsandcaseshavesimilarorcomparablecharacteristics.Selectionbiasoccurswhentheselectedcontrolsnegatethisidealandarenotrepresentativeofthepopulationfromwhichthecasesdeveloped(Tennyetal.,2023).Selectionbiasincreasestheriskofobtaininginaccuratefindings.Thethirdlimitationofcase-controldesignsisthattheyonlyshowcorrelationanddonotestablishcausation(Tenyetal.,2023).Forinstance,thecase-controldesignmayshowthatacorrelationexistsbetweenHSPparticipationandhousingstability.However,itwillnotestablishwhetheracause-and-effectrelationshipexists,orwhetherHSPparticipationisthecauseofhighhousingstabilityamongparticipants.Toestablishcausality,theevaluatorswillhavetouseotherdesigns,suchasrandomizedcontrolledtrials(RCTs),whichtakecareofpre-existingdifferencesbetweencontrolsandcases.Section4:DataCollection:Thissectionprovidesinformationonhowyouwillcollect/compiledataforyourevaluation.Itshouldprovideinformationonthemethodsthatyouwillusetocollectdataandhowthesemethods,andthedatathatwillbecompiled,arerelatedtotheevaluationquestion(s)youaretryingtoanswer.Thissectionshouldincludethefollowingelements:(1-2doublespacedpages):DataCollectionMethods:1.Willyoucollectnewdatatoanswertheevaluationquestions,orwillyouusesecondarydata?2.Howwillthedataalignwithrelevantprogram/policyperformancemeasures?3.Whatmethodswillbeusedtocollectoracquirethedata?4.Willyoucollectdatafromasampleofparticipants?Ifso,howwillthesamplebeselected?5.Howwilldatacollectioninstrumentsbeidentifiedandtested?Ifyouareusingapreviouslyvalidatedinstrument,includethisdetailandcitethecorrespondingsource(s).6.Howwillthequalityandutilityofdatabedetermined?7.Fromwhomorfromwhatwilldatabecollected?Whatisthesourceofthedata?8.Howwillthedatabestored,managed,andprotected?9.Addressethicalconsiderations(e.g.,participantinformedconsent,confidentiality,IRBapproval)Primarydatawillbecollectedthroughacombinationofqualitativeandquantitativetechniques.Asurveywillbeadministeredtosampledhomelessadultsattheprogram'sstart,atthetimeofexit,andsixmonthsafterexittogatherquantitativedataonsatisfactionwithHSPservices,financialliteracy,andhousingstability.Financialliteracyandhousingstabilitywillmeasureone'sriskofhomelessnessthrice.Face-to-faceinterviewswillbeconductedtocollectqualitativedatafrom10HSPparticipantsand10non-participantsontheprogram'saccessibilityandrelevancetotheneedsofhomelessindividuals.Studieshavesuggestedthat20to30interviewsareoptimalfortheoreticalsaturationwhenconductingsemi-structuredinterviews(Vasileiouetal.,2018).Theevaluatorsfeelthat20interviews(10fromcasesand10fromcontrols)willsufficientlyprovidetheinformationneededwithminimalstrainontheavailableresources.Theinterviewswillbeconductedattheendoftheprogram(thetimeofexit).Thus,interviewswillbeusedtocollectin-depthinformationontheattitudesandperceptionsofbothHSPparticipantsandnon-participants.Atthesametime,thesurveywillprovidedataontheHSP'seffectivenessinreducinghomelessnessamongitsparticipants.Theevaluatorswillalsoreviewprogramrecordstogatherdataonthenumberofhomelessindividualsservedannuallyandthesupportavailableforbeneficiaries.Thesamplewillconsistof300homelessadults,150ofwhomwillbeHSPparticipants,and150willbenon-participants.Thesamplewillbeselectedrandomlyfromprogramrecordsofcommunity-basedorganizationsandhomelesssheltersservinghomelessindividuals.Randomsamplingwillhelpenhancetheobjectivityofthestudyfindings(Bloomfield&Fisher,2019).ThecaseswillbeHSPparticipantsatthefiveparticipatinghomelesssheltersthatreceiveHSPgrants.ControlswillbedrawnfromthefivehomelessshelterstakingpartinthestudythatarenoteligibleforHSPfundingorgrants.Coggonetal.(2009)advicethattherecruitmentofcontrolsshouldmeettworequirements:theirexposuretoconfounderandriskfactorsshouldberepresentativeoftheat-riskpopulationfromwhichthecasesaredrawn,andtheexposureshouldbemeasurablewithasimilarlevelofaccuracyasthecases.Inlinewiththeserequirements,controlswillberecruitedbasedontheHSPeligibilitycriteriaasameanstoenhancesimilaritybetweencasesandcontrols.Thus,eligiblecontrolgroupparticipantswillberequiredtohaveannualincomeslessthan30percentofthemedianfamilyincomeinthestate,belivinginthestreetsorinatemporarylivingarrangement,andbelackingaccesstosupportsandresourcesneededtoobtainstablehousing.Despitetheseeffortstoensuresimilarity,assessmentofthecontrolgroup’sexposuremaynotbeaccuratelycomparabletothatofcaseparticipantsduetoselectionbias(Coggonetal.,2006).Tomaketheexposuresmorecomparable,theevaluationwilluseascontrolshomelessindividualsparticipatinginotherformsofsupportiveservicesorprogramssimilartotheHSP.Theevaluatorswillnotrevealtothecontrolgroupparticipantstheexactfocusoftheevaluationtominimizeissuesrelatedtorecallbias(Coggonetal.,2006).ThefivesheltersthatareineligibleforHSPfundingwillproviderecordsofhomelessindividualsintheirorganizationswhomeettheHSPeligibilitycriteria,andtheevaluatorswillthenuserandomsamplingtoselect150ofthesetoberecruitedascontrols.Toenhancethereliabilityandvalidityoftheevaluationfindings,theevaluatorswillusepreviouslyvalidatedinstrumentstomeasureparticipants'satisfactionwithHSPservices,financialliteracy,andhousingstability.SatisfactionwithHSPserviceswillbemeasuredusingasurveyadaptedfromtheClientSatisfactionQuestionnaire(CSQ-8)(appendixCintheappendices).StudiestestingthepsychometricpropertiesoftheCSQ-8inoutpatientandresidentialsettingshavefoundtheinstrumenttobeareliableandvalidmeasureofclientsatisfaction(Pedersenetal.,2022).Pedersenetal.(2022)foundtheCSQ-8tohavehighinternalconsistency(CronbachAlpha=0.95)andhighfactorvalidity,withallfactorloadingsgreaterthan0.8.Ontheirpart,Kellyetal.(2017)foundtheCSQ-8tohavehighconcurrentvalidity,havingshownastrongcorrelationwithotherscales,specificallytheTreatmentPerceptionsQuestionnaire(TPQ).FinancialliteracywillbemeasuredusingasurveyadaptedfromtheFinancialWell-beingScale(appendixDintheappendices)(ConsumerFinancialProtectionBureau,2023).QuantitativestudiesbytheConsumerFinancialProtectionBureau(2023)foundthatthefinancialwell-beingscalehadhighinternalconsistency,asshownbytheCronbachAlphaof0.8.Thismakesitavalidandreliablemeasureoffinancialwell-being.Finally,housingstabilitywillbemeasuredusingasurveyadaptedfromtheVulnerabilityIndex-ServicePrioritizationDecisionAssistanceTool(VI-SPDATv2.0forindividuals)(includedintheappendices).Studieshavefoundthetool’spredictivevalidityandtest-retestreliabilitytoberelativelylowerthanothervulnerabilityassessmenttools(Brownetal.,2018).However,thestudyfoundthatthetool’spredictiveabilitywasimprovedbyadditionofhousingtypequestions(Brownetal.,2018).TheVI-SPDATV2.0ispreferredfortheproposedevaluationbecauseitfocuseshugelyonhousingtypeandthusgivesabetterviewofhousingstabilityascomparedtoothervulnerabilitytoolsthatfocusmoreonsocialrelationshipsandmentalhealth.Toensurethedatacollectedisofhighquality,theevaluationwillstandardizethedatacollectionprocessbyensuringthatallsurveysareconductedandfilledoutinEnglish.Interpreterswillbeengagedfornon-English-speakingparticipantstoensuretheyadequatelyunderstandtheinterview/surveyquestionsandthatthedatatheygiveiscapturedaccurately.Casemanagersengagedindatacollectionwillbetrainedbeforetheevaluationtoensurethattheyarewell-versedwiththesurveyinstrument/interviewprotocolandadequatelyunderstandtheirrolesandtherightsofparticipants.Participantswillberequiredtogivetheirconsentbeforethestartoftheevaluation.Theywillsignaninformedconsentformtoindicatetheirconsenttoparticipate.Participantswillbenotifiedintheconsentformthattheirparticipationisvoluntaryandthatanyinformationtheyprovidewillbeusedsolelyforevaluationpurposes.Inlinewithanonymityrequirements,self-generatedidentitycodesthatcannotbetracedtoaspecificindividualwillbeusedtoidentifyparticipantsacrossthethreewavesofdatacollection(Audetteetal.,2020).Theself-generatedcodeswillbecreatedfromanswerstofourpersonalquestionsarrangedinapre-determinedorder:thefirstletteroftheparticipant’smiddlename,theirmonthofbirth,howmanyoldersisterstheyhave,andthefirstinitialoftheirmother’sfirstname(Audetteetal.,2020).Thus,aparticipantwhosemiddlenameisCate(C),wasborninApril(04),hastwooldersisters(02),andwhosemotherisnamedMary(M)wouldgeneratethecodeC0402M,whichwillbeusedtolinktheirdataacrossthethreewavesofdatacollection.Toensureconfidentiality,allthecollecteddatawillbestoredelectronicallyinapassword-protectedlaptopusedsolelyfortheevaluationundertheprogramdirector'scare.TheprogrammanagerwillobtainprospectiveIRBapprovaltoevaluateandenhancethewelfareandrightsofparticipantsashumansubjects.10.EvaluationQuestionLink:a.Howdoeseachdatacollectionmethodrelatetotheevaluationquestion(s)proposed?Suggestedtable:EvaluationQuestionDataCollectionMethodSourceofDataTimelineforDataCollection1.Comparedtonon-participants,areprogramparticipantsmoreabletosecureandmaintainstablehousing?SurveyHSPparticipants(150)andnon-participants(150)February2024–March2024(baseline);November2024toFebruary2025(endofprogram);AugusttoSeptember2025(followup)2.Howdoesthefinancialwell-beingofHSPparticipantscomparewithnon-participantsatprogramstart,end,andatsix-monthsfollow-up?SurveyHSPparticipantsandnon-participantsFebruary2024–March2024(baseline);November2024toFebruary2025(endofprogram);AugusttoSeptember2025(followup)3.Istheprogramaccessibleandrelevanttothediverseneedsofhomelesspeople?Face-to-FaceInterviews10HSPParticipantsand10non-participantsFebruary2025toMarch20254.AreprogramparticipantsconsistentlysatisfiedwiththesupportandservicestheyreceivefromtheHSP?SurveyFace-to-FaceInterviewsHSPparticipants(150)HSPparticipants(10)November2024toFebruary2025(endofprogram)February2025toMarch2025Section5:DataAnalysisandInterpretation:Inthissection,youwillprovideinformationonthestandardsyouwillusetojudgetheperformanceand/oroutcomesoftheprogramorpolicythatyouevaluate.Youshoulddescribehowyouwillanalyzeyourevaluationfindingsandinterpretandjustifyyourconclusions.(1-2doublespacedpages):IndicatorsandStandards:1.Whatarethemeasurableorobservableelementsthatcantellyouabouttheperformanceoroutcomesoftheprogramorpolicythatyouareevaluating?2.Whatconstitutes“success”(i.e.,bywhatstandardswillyoucompareyourevaluationfindings?)Suggestedtable:EvaluationQuestionCriterionorIndicatorStandards(i.e.,whatconstitutessuccess?)1.CapacityoftheHSPHSPbeneficiarieswhosecurehousingunitseveryyearasaproportionofthetotalpopulationofbeneficiariesaccordingtoagencyrecords.NumberofnewpartnershipswithotherhousingsupportnetworkseveryyearAtleast30percentofHSPbeneficiariesacquirepermanenthousingunitseveryyear.ThisstandardisdrawnfromGoal2(objective2.1)oftheHSPasperthe2020-2024strategicplan,whichfocusesonensuringthatatleast90percentofbeneficiariesexittopermanenthousingbytheendof2024(DHCDConsolidatedPlan,2020).Anannualtransitionratetopermanenthousingof30percentwillensurethattheHSPrealizesits90percenttargetbytheendofthecurrentstrategicplanperiod.Atleast25newpartnershipsareformedwithotherhousingsupportorganizationseveryyeartoincreasetheHSP’sgeographicalreach.TheHSPtargetstoreachatleast50percentofhomelessindividuals/householdsinthestateinthecourseofitsstrategicperiod(DHCDConsolidatedPlan,2020).Partnershipswithotherhousingsupportnetworksarecrucialfortherealizationofthisobjective.25newpartnershipseveryyearwouldtranslateinto100newpartnershipseverystrategicperiod,whichwouldgoalongwaytowardsreachingmorehomelessindividuals.2.ReducetherateofhomelessnessAnnualincreasesinthenumberofhomelessindividualsandfamiliesjoiningtheHSPThepopulationofhomelessindividualsservedbytheHSPincreasesby10percentannually.InitsGoal1(objective1.1),theHSPtargetstoreachatleast50percentofunshelteredindividualsinthestatebytheendoftheendof2024(DHCDConsolidatedPlan,2020).Annualincreasesof10percentinthepopulationservedwouldensurethattheHSPstaysoncoursewiththisobjectiveasitalsoincreasesitsgeographicalreach.3.ReducetimespentunshelteredProportionofhomelessindividualslivinginconditionsunfitforhabitationthatarereferredtoHSP-affiliatedemergencysheltersanddiversionprograms75percentofhomelessindividualslivinginareasunfitforhumanhabitationarereferredtoemergencysheltersanddiversionprogramseveryyear.Thisstandardisinformedbygoal1oftheHSP,whichfocusesonensuringthat50percentofunshelteredindividuals/householdsand100percentofthosewholosetheirpermanentresidenceexittosafesheltersbytheendof2024(DHCDConsolidatedPlan,2020).Atransitionrateof75percentforunshelteredindividualseveryyearwouldensuretheHSPremainsoncoursewithitsgoalofachieving100percenttransitionbytheendofthestrategicplanperiod.AnalysisofData:1.Whatmethodswillyouusetoanalyzeyourdata(e.g.,descriptivestatistics,inferentialstatistics)?2.Provideexampledatatabletemplates,ifapplicable.Thecollecteddatawillbeanalyzedusingqualitativeandquantitativetechniques.Surveydatawillbeanalyzedusingdescriptivestatisticstoassessfinancialliteracyandhousingstabilitychangesovertime.PercentagesandmeanswilldeterminetheproportionofHSPparticipantswithasatisfactionscoreabove26intheClientSatisfactionQuestionnaire.TheClientSatisfactionQuestionnaireyieldsscoresofbetween8and21,withscoresabove26indicatinghighlevelsofsatisfaction.Percentageswillalsobeusedtodeterminetheproportionofparticipantswithabove–averagescoresinfinancialliteracyandhousingstabilityacrossthethreewavesofdatacollection.Thesewillthenbecomparedwiththoseofnon-participants.One-wayanalysisofvariance(ANOVA)willbeusedtoexaminewhetherparticipating/notparticipatinginHSP(independentvariable)affectsfinancialliteracyandhousingstability(dependentvariables)bycomparingparticipants’meanscoresagainstnon-participants’atbaseline,programendandsix-monthsfollowup.One-wayANOVAisappropriateforexaminingmeandifferencesbetweentwoormorepopulationswhenthedependentvariableiscontinuousandtheindependentvariableiscategoricalasinthiscase(Astleetal.,2023).Table1belowpresentsatemplateoftheone-wayanalysisofvariancetablecomparingparticipants'andnon-participants'meanscoresinfinancialliteracyandhousingstability.Pairedsamplest-testswillbeconductedtodeterminewhetherHSPparticipants'financialliteracyandhousingstabilityscoresatprogramendandatsix-monthfollowupdiffersignificantlyfrombaselinelevels(Astleetal.,2023).Table2belowpresentsasampleofthepairedt-testssampleresultstable.Thematicanalysiswillbeusedtoanalyzedatacollectedthroughinterviews.Thematicanalysiswillidentifyrecurrentthemesrelatedtoculturalcompetenceandprogrameffectiveness.TheevaluatorwillalsoreviewprogramrecordstoidentifytrendsandpatternsintheHSPsupportandserviceofferings.TheresultsofallthreeanalysistechniqueswillbeintegratedtoprovideacomprehensiveviewoftheHSP'simpact.Table1:One-wayAnalysisofVarianceResultsTableTemplateSumofSquaresdfMeanSquareFSig.BetweenGroupsWithinGroupsTotalTable2:PairedT-TestResultsTableTemplatePair1Baseline–ProjectEndPairedDifferences95%ConfidenceIntervalMeanStd.DeviationStd.ErrorMeanLowerUppertdfSig.(2-tailed)InterpretationofFindings:1.Whichstakeholderswillyouinvolveindrawing,interpreting,andjustifyingconclusionsfromyourfindings?2.Whatareyourplansforinvolvingtheminthisprocess?Keystakeholderswillbeinvolvedindrawing,interpreting,andjustifyingconclusionsfromtheevaluationfindings.StakeholderstobeinvolvedincludeHSPstaffandrepresentativesoflocalserviceprovidersandCOCsworkingwithhomelessindividualsundertheHSP.Theevaluatorwillinvolvethesestakeholdersaspartofaninternalevaluationteamtoworkwiththeexternalevaluatorsininterpretingthefindings,providingexplanationsforconclusionsdrawn,andsuggestingpossibleareasofimprovement.Harris(2016)pointsoutthatinvolvingstakeholdersintheinterpretationoffindingsanddrawingofconclusionshelpsincreasetheintegrityofthedataanalysisprocessandhelpsthemownthefindingsandrecommendations,ensuringeffectiveimplementationandminimalresistance.Section6:DisseminatingFindings:Thissectionshouldincludethefollowingelements:(1doublespacedpage):1.Whatarethetargetaudience(s)forreportingevaluationfindings?2.Whatisthepurposeofcommunicatingwiththisaudience?3.Whatisthemostappropriatecommunicationtype(e.g.,report,presentation,audio-visual)forthisaudience?4.Whenwillevaluationresultsbedisseminated?AnarticlebytheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison(2021)indicatesthatwhendisseminatingprogramevaluationresults,itisprudenttoconsiderwhomthefindingswillimpact.Basedonthis,thetargetaudienceforthedisseminationoffindingswillincluderepresentativesofHSPparticipants,HSPstaff,representativesofLCEsandCOCsthatdirectlyrenderservicestopeopleexperiencinghomelessness,federalandstategovernmentrepresentatives,partneragencies,communityrepresentatives,andmembersoftheDHCDboardofmanagement.GovernmentrepresentativesrepresentthefundersoftheHSPandwillusetheevaluationfindingstoassesswhethertheHSPisaworthwhileinvestmentinreducinghomelessness.TheevaluationfindingswillalsoprovideameansforgovernmentrepresentativestoassessthesufficiencyofbudgetaryallocationstotheHSPandasabasistorequestincreasedfunding.CommunityrepresentativesarecrucialindisseminatingfindingsastheydeterminetheextenttowhichlocalcommunitiessupporttheactivitiesoftheHSP.Throughthedissemination,theywillunderstandtheimpactoftheHSPinreducinghomelessness.Theywillhelpfurtherdisseminatetheinformationtolocalcommunitymembers,whocouldoffersupportbyreferringhomelessnesscasestolocalserviceprovidersforsupport.TheHSPstaffandrepresentativesoflocalserviceprovidersarecrucialinthecommunicationastheyarethedirectimplementersofHSPinterventions.Thus,itwouldbeprudentforthemtounderstandtheparticipants’perceptionsofthequalityandeffectivenessofservicesoffered.Finally,theHSPmanagementwouldusetheevaluationfindingstoguidepolicyanddecision-makingonareasrequiringimprovementtoensurethattheHSPrealizesitsgoals.TheevaluationfindingswillhelpthemanagementassesstheHSP'sprogressinrealizingitsgoalsandobjectives,aswellaspossibleareasofimprovementforincreasedeffectiveness.Giventhediversenatureoftheaudience,theevaluatorwillorganizeadisseminationworkshop,wheretheywilluseaPowerPointpresentationtocommunicatethemainfindingsandrecommendationsoftheevaluation.TheevaluationfindingswillalsobesummarizedinareportthatwillbesharedwiththeDHCDtopmanagementandavailabletothepublicontheHSPwebsite.TheDHCD'sHomelessnessSolutionProgramwillsharethefinalreportinSeptember2025.ThedisseminationworkshoptosharefindingsandrecommendationswilloccurbetweenNovemberandDecember2025.Section7:EvaluationProjectActivities/Timeframe:Thissectionprovidesadetailedtimeline(i.e.,monthbymonthoryearbyyear)ofthespecificactivitiesinvolvedinstarting,implementing,andconcludingyourevaluation.Youcanincludealistoftheseactivities(bulletpoints)orsummarizetheminatable.Theseactivitiesshouldprovideinformationabouthowtheevaluationgoals/objectiveswillbeachieved.(1doublespacedpage):Timeline:Presentyourevaluationtasksalongatimeline(useaGANTTchart-exampleprovidedattheendofthetemplate)1.Planningandadministrativetasks2.Datacollectiontasks3.Dataanalysis4.Reportwriting5.Informationdissemination6.Anyanticipatedchallengesregardingthefeasibilityofyourtimeline?EvaluationActivityResponsiblePersonToBeCompletedByRecruit/hirecasemanagers,programanalysts,andtrainingconsultants.ProgramManagerFebruary2024CreatepartnershipswiththeContinuumsofCareandtheLocalHomelessCoalitionsProgramManagerandAdministrativeAssistantMarch2024Traincasemanagersoncasemanagementdutiesregardingthehomelesspopulation.ProgramManagerandAdministrativeAssistantMay2024MeetwithprogramanalysttoreviewstrategicplanandexpectedoutcomesProgramManagerMay2024Contacthomelessshelterstoidentify150participantsfortheparticipantgroupProgramDirector,DirectorAssistant,andProgramAnalystMay–July2024Contactcommunityagenciesservingpeopleexperiencinghomelessnesstoidentify150participantsforthenon-participantgroupProgramManager,AdministrativeAssistant,andProgramAnalystMay–July2024Introduceteamandevaluationstudytoselectedhomelessparticipants.Obtainverbalandwrittenconsentfor6-monthparticipationfrom150homelessparticipants.Administertheinitialsurvey.ProgramManagerandProgramAnalystJuly–August2024Randomlyassignparticipantstocasemanagers.ProgramManagerandAdministrativeAssistantJuly–August2024InitiatetheseriesofeighttrainingclassesAdministrativeAssistantandTrainingConsultantsSeptember–November2024Administersurveystoshelterparticipantsandnon-shelterparticipants.(Endofprogram)ProgramManagerandProgramAnalystNovember2024–February2025Conductparticipants'interviewstoassessprogramsatisfactionfrom10randomlyselectedparticipantsand10non-participants.ProgramAnalystFebruary–March2025Dataanalysis/outcomecomparisonbetweenparticipantandnon-participantgroupsatthebeginningoftheevaluationandaftersixmonths.ProgramManagerMarch2025–September2025Compilefindings,preparereports,andsharewiththeDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment'sHomelessnessSolutionsProgram(HSP)ProgramManagerandAdministrativeAssistantSeptember–October2025ShareoutcomesevaluationfindingsandrecommendationstostakeholdersProgramManagerNovember2025–December2025Timeline:TheactivitytimelineispresentedinaGanttchartintheappendicessection.Section8:Budget:Thissectionprovidesadetailedbreakdownofthebudgetfortheproposedevaluation.Provideanarrativeexplanationofthebudget(i.e.,rationale/reasoningforbudgetitems)aswellasalinebylinebudgettable(thistablecanbeincludedintheappendixsection).Somethingstoconsiderwhendevelopingabudgetinclude:(1-2doublespacedpages):·Describethefundingsource.Wherewillyougetthefundstoconductthisevaluation?·Salariesforprofessionalandnon-professionalpersonnel.Whataretheirroles/responsibilities?·Whatarethecostsassociatedwithdatacollectionandanalysis(e.g.,transcriptionofinterviews,statisticalsoftware)?·Aretheyanytravel-relatedcosts?·Arethereanymarketing-relatedcosts?·Doyouneedspecialequipment?·Willyouprovideincentivesforparticipation?·Arethereanytransportation-relatedcosts?Note:Therearemanywaystoformatthebudgettable.Besuretoincludeidentifiableheadings.Majorheadingstoconsiderare:salaryandwages(personnel);travel;equipment;supplies;incentives;service(e.g.,transcription,statisticalconsultations).ThisisnotanexhaustivelistThetotalprojectedbudgetfortheproposedevaluationis$669,300.80.TheevaluatorwillsubmitanapplicationforfundingtotheJ-PALNorthAmerica'sHomelessnessRFP,whichsupportsevaluationsofinnovationsandstrategiestoreduceandpreventhomelessnessinNorthAmerica.TheRFPprovidesfundingforeligibleproposal/traveldevelopmentgrants,pilotstudies,andcompleteresearchprojectsto$250,000(PovertyActionLab,n.d.).ThebalancewillbeobtainedfromtheMercyFoundationGrantstoEndHomelessness,whichprovidesgrantstofundresearchthatcontributestoreducingoreradicatinghomelessness(MercyFoundation,n.d.).Staffingcosts,includingsalariesandbenefits,amountto$523,519.24.Thiscoverstwofull-timeandelevenpart-timestaffmembers.Theevaluationwillemployaprojectdirectorandprojectassistantonafull-timebasis.Theprojectmanagerwillserveastheprimarycontactpersonandwillberesponsibleforrecruitingcasemanagersandtrainingconsultants,andtheprogramanalystwilloverseetheevaluationprocess.Theprojectassistantwillassistinaccountingandrecord-keeping,dataentry,andcoordinatingandschedulingtrainingsessions.Thepart-timestaffwillincludetencasemanagersandaprogramanalyst.Thecasemanagerswillconductassessmentsandoffercasemanagementservices.Atthesametime,theprogramanalystwillbeengagedfortwoweekseachmonthandresponsiblefordatacollectionandanalysis.$5,600willbeusedtofinancetrainingsessionsonfinancialliteracyandhousingstabilityfortheprogram'stencasemanagers.Thecostcoversthetrainingconsultant'sfeesandlunchforparticipantsduringsessions.Toappreciateparticipants,theevaluatorwillofferfurnituresupplies,rentalassistance,andemergencyfood/clothingvoucherstoparticipantsatanestimatedcostof$42,500.Incentiveswillalsobeofferedtoparticipantsattheendoftheevaluationtoencouragethemtoparticipateintheevaluation.Theprojectedcostofparticipants'incentivesis$500.Theevaluatordoesnotanticipateadditionalcostsarounddatacollectionandanalysisapartfromthesalariesofthetencasemanagerswhowillbeinvolvedinconductinginterviewsandadministeringthesurvey.Theevaluatoralreadyhastherelevantdataanalysissoftwareinstalledontheircomputerandwillnotincuradditionalsoftwarepurchasecosts.Interviewsandsurveyswillbeconductedintheshelterstowhichparticipantsarelinked;thus,nocostswillbeincurredintransportingparticipants.AdetailedbreakdownofthebudgetlineitemsispresentedinthebudgettableinAppendix1.Section9:Conclusions:Brieflysummarizetheprimarilygoal(s)andobjectivesoftheproposedevaluation.Discussitspotentialstrengths,limitations,andhowitisexpectedtocontributetopublichealth.(1doublespacedpage):Briefsummaryofproposedevaluation(besuretoincludeoneortwosentencesabouttherelevance/significanceoftheevaluation).TheproposedevaluationassessestheeffectivenessandrelevanceoftheMarylandDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment'sHomelessnessSolutionProgram.TheHSPwasinitiatedin2017asastatewideresponsetohomelessness.Itsmandateistocoordinateresourcesandfundingforlocalserviceprovidersfocusedonofferingsupportandservicestopeopleexperiencinghomelessness.DatafromthepastseveralyearsshowsthatMaryland'shomelessnessrateshavebeendeclining.However,homelessnesscontinuestodisproportionatelyaffectspecialpopulations,includingveterans,peoplewithphysicaldisabilities,mentallyillindividuals,andunaccommodatedyouth.ThisaccentuatestheneedtoevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheHSP'sinterventionsinreducinghomelessnessamongsuchspecialpopulations.Theevaluationfindingswillcontributetopublichealthbyprovidinginsightsonbestpracticesforeffectivehomelesspreventionprograms.Ultimately,otherprogramsservinghomelessindividualscouldusetheevaluationasatemplatefordesigningtheirinterventionsandevaluatingtheirprograms.TheoverallgoaloftheevaluationistoassesstheHSP'seffectivenessinreducinghomelessness.Theevaluationobjectives,drawnfromtheevaluationquestions,areto:i)DeterminewhetherHSPparticipantsreportahigherabilitytosecureandmaintainstablehousingthannon-participantsii)DeterminewhetherHSPparticipantsreporthigherfinancialwell-beingthannon-participantsiii)AssesstheproportionofHSPparticipantswhoconsidertheprogramaccessible,competent,andculturallydiverseiv)AssesstheoverallqualityofHSP’sservicesandsupportsStrengths1.Whataretheanticipatedstrengthsofthisproposedevaluation?Isitaddressinganimportantgaporlimitationintheliterature?Isthetargetpopulationunique?Theproposedevaluationaddressesafundamentalgapintheliterature.Manystudiesexistontheeffectivenessofhomelessnessassistanceinterventions.However,mostofthesestudiesfocusoninterventionswithalimitedscope,precisely,asmallnumberofservices.TheevaluationprovidesameanstostudytheeffectivenessoftheHSP,whosemodelincorporatesadiverserangeofsupportsandinterventions.Additionally,theselectedcase-controlmethodologyprovidesameanstostudytheimpactofHSPparticipationusingacost-effectiveandlesscomplexapproach,differentlyfromotherdesigns,suchascohortstudies,whichrequirelotsofresourcesandcomplexfollow-upprocedures.Moreover,theadoptedmethodologyallowstheevaluatorstostudytheprogressionofHSPparticipants’housingstabilityscoresatprogramstart,programend,andatsix-monthfollowup.ThefindingswillprovidecrucialinsightsonhowHSPparticipantsperformrelativetonon-participantswhensupportfromtheHSPceases.Limitations1.Whataretheanticipatedweaknessesorlimitationsofthisproposedevaluation?Aretherebiasesintheevaluationdesign?Aretherebarrierstoparticipation?Isyourtargetpopulationnotrepresentativeofthelargerpopulation?Doessomethinglimityourabilitytogeneralizefindingsfromtheproposedevaluationtootherpopulations?Explainhowtheselimitationsmayposethreatstotheintegrityoftheevaluationdesign.Theevaluationonlyusesdescriptivestatisticstoanalyzethedataanddoesnotinvolvetheuseofinferentialstatistics.Thus,thefindingscannotbeusedtodrawinferencesorgeneralizetheentirehomelesspopulationinMarylandorhomelesspopulationsinotherstates.FutureresearchcouldreplicatethestudyusinginferentialstatisticssuchasregressionanalysistoanalyzehowHSPparticipationpredictsone'sfinancialliteracyandhousingstability.Thesecondmajorlimitationisthatitreliesonparticipants’self-reporteddata,whichissusceptibletomemoryandself-desirabilitybiasesthatmayaffectthevalidityandcredibilityoffindings.Atthesametime,theselectedcase-controlmethodologydoesnothelpinestablishingcausalitybetweenHSPparticipationandhousingstability.Moreover,issuesrelatedtorecallandselectionbiasthatareprevalentincase-controlstudiesmayaffectthecredibilityandvalidityoffindings.ExpectedOutcomes1.Whataretheimplicationsofthepotentialevaluationfindings?Howwillthisevaluationbeusefulforpolicymakersorthebroadercommunity?Whatarepotentialimplicationsforfutureresearch?Generally,theevaluationcontributespositivelytothefieldofpublichealthbyprovidinginsightsonwhatinterventionsmayormaynotworkeffectivelyinahomelesspreventionprogram.Thefindingsoftheevaluationwillserveasaguidelineforprogrammanagersrunningsimilarprogramsonbestpracticesforeffectivehomelessnesspreventioninterventions.Thiswouldminimizetheriskoferrorsandwastageinsuchprograms.Atthesametime,theevaluationfindingswillbringtolightcrucialresearchquestionsthatcouldformthebasisoffuturestudies.Theseinclude:Towhatextentdocommunityneedsinformhomelessnesspreventionprograms?Whatstrategiescouldagenciesusetoincreasebeneficiaries’satisfactionwithavailableprograms?Whatistheimpactofprogramdesignonthesuccessofhomelessnesspreventionprograms?Whatistheimpactofcommunitynetworksinthesuccessofhomelessnesspreventionprograms?Whatfundingmodelsaremosteffectiveinhomelessnesspreventionprograms?

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