Developing an Implementation Typology of Moving On Initiatives

Abstract

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs are now using Moving On initiatives (MOIs) to increase the homeless service system capacity. These initiatives support tenants with the transition from PSH to mainstream affordable housing by providing them with mainstream housing assistance and various transitional services. Research on this approach has primarily consisted of evaluations of individual programs. Less is known about MOI implementation features across programs. This study utilizes a document review and descriptive survey of 27 MOIs to describe MOI implementation variation and identify common strategies for helping people to move on from PSH. Findings suggest that a wide degree of variation exists in these approaches between and within MOI programs. Two primary types of move on strategies were identified: “Moving Up and Out” and “Transitioning in Place.” Implications for the homeless service system are discussed.

Keywords:

• Homelessness
• supportive housing
• Moving On initiative
• transition
• implementation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of CSH staff in the execution of this project and all of the participants who provided information on the Moving On initiatives included in this study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emmy Tiderington

Dr. Emmy Tiderington is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Associate Faculty at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Before this appointment, she worked as a clinical supervisor, social worker, and direct care provider in housing and case management programs for individuals with serious mental illness and other complex needs. Her research has been funded by a variety of Federal, State, local, and private funders, including the National Institute of Mental Health, State of New Jersey, Oak Foundation, and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Amanda Aykanian

Dr. Amanda Aykanian is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. Before this position, she worked for 13 years as a program evaluator, conducting outcome and implementation studies of supportive housing, street outreach, and case management intervention models. Her research interests center on strengthening homeless service systems through evidence-based program and policy implementation, with special attention to improving system design and function, identifying disparities in service access and outcomes, and evaluating strategies for data-driven decision making.

Daniel Herman

Dr. Daniel Herman is a Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and a doctoral faculty member at the Graduate Center and the School of Public Health of the City University of New York. His work focuses on the development, testing, and dissemination of community-based interventions for persons with severe mental illness and persons experiencing homelessness. He directs the Center for the Advancement of Critical Time Intervention, which promotes the dissemination of this empirically-supported, time-limited motel that helps vulnerable people during times of transition in their lives by strengthening networks of support in the community.