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Evaluators examined the Welfare-to-Work Voucher program at six sites, using a multisite experimental design to randomly assign eligible participants to either an intervention or comparison group at each site. A total of 8,732 families were randomly assigned from April 2000 through May 2001. The evaluators conducted a survey of some families in the study. Families were eligible for the survey if they enrolled in one of the five non-Los Angeles sites; completed a baseline survey; and had a dependent, minor child in their household at baseline. Of the 8,731 families that participated in the study, 7,258 met these eligibility criteria, and 5,000 were randomly selected to participate in the survey.
2000–2006
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded the study.
To be eligible to receive a Welfare-to-Work voucher, families had to be former or current Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, or they needed to be eligible to receive TANF benefits. They also had to meet the standard Housing Choice Voucher eligibility requirements. Individual sites might have further specified the eligibility requirements. The individuals in the research sample were predominantly female, never married, and were between 19 and 44 years old. In addition, nearly half of the sample was Black and non-Hispanic, 21 percent was Hispanic, and 20 percent was White and non-Hispanic. Nearly 57 percent had a high school diploma or GED.
Local housing agencies, as selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), partnering with TANF agencies
The Welfare-to-Work Voucher program was initiated in fiscal year 1999 and allowed 50,000 rental assistance vouchers to be awarded to eligible families by HUD. HUD renewed the vouchers annually until March 2004, when the vouchers were phased out and incorporated into the Housing Choice Voucher program.
The Welfare-to-Work Voucher program aimed to provide low-income families with housing assistance to help them successfully transition from welfare to work. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention group received rental assistance vouchers that could be used to rent any unit in the private rental market, as long as it met HUD standards and was priced similarly to unassisted units in the same market. Housing agencies could terminate rental assistance if clients did not participate in required work or training activities. In general, any employment-related supports provided in conjunction with the voucher were similar to those available in the broader community.
Members of the comparison group did not receive housing assistance from the demonstration. However, some members of the comparison group applied for and obtained housing vouchers through the Housing Choice Voucher program, which provided similar assistance.
None.
The program randomly assigned clients to services from April 2000 to May 2001, and services continued until March 2004
Congressional appropriation.
The program took place in six sites: (1) Atlanta, GA; (2) Augusta, GA; (3) Fresno, CA; (4) Houston, TX; (5) Los Angeles, CA; and (6) Spokane, WA.
Housing, Child well-being