Change in housing environment and residential satisfaction following exit from permanent supportive housing

Abstract

Moving On initiatives (MOIs) transition stable permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents into mainstream housing without embedded services. While this approach frees up PSH for homeless individuals in need, open questions remain regarding MOI recipients’ long-term outcomes. This exploratory study examines how housing environment and residential satisfaction, potential predictors of housing retention, change from PSH to mainstream housing. Subjective assessments of housing and neighborhood quality and residential satisfaction, as well as objective neighborhood-level data, are used to examine housing-related change for New York City MOI recipients. Participants generally moved to less-distressed neighborhoods with lower poverty and crime. Subjective perceptions of some aspects of neighborhood and housing quality also improved post-move. Participants tended to move farther from public transportation but were on average located within one mile of the nearest subway station. Results can be taken as early indicators of the potential benefits of MOIs.