An Evaluation Report for HUD-Funded Transitional Housing Program for People Living with HIV

Overview: The HOPWA funded program focused on a “social” return on investment model.
1) to determine how affordable, supportive housing and housing assistance through HUD monies impact persons living with HIV/AIDs who receive services from Grace House;
2) to evaluate whether the agency successfully fulfills its mission, goals, objectives, and needs.Proposal text: Program

Description:

As the state’s longest operating AIDS service organization, Grace House has a mission of transitioning homeless persons into self-sufficient and permanent housing. The agency offers three housing options and related supportive services. Grace House I provides transitional housing services to men. Grace House II with 6 beds is the only dedicated shelter in the entire state of Mississippi for women living with HIV disease. Grace House III serves as community residence permanent housing – the first permanent housing in the entire state.

The HOPWA project focused on providing affordable, supportive permanent housing for people with HIV/AIDS; improving transitional housing and support programs for people with HIV/AIDS. The expected outputs for transitional housing would be around 25 clients per year. Our expected success rate for transitioning clients into permanent housing would be 20% per year with a stay of at least six months. Five individuals will have access to permanent housing through the community residence and 25 individuals/families per year will use tenant-based rental assistance

Purpose Statement:
The HOPWA funded program for Grace House focused on a “social” return on investment (Social ROI) model. The primary goals of this model are 1) to determine how affordable, supportive housing and housing assistance through HUD monies impact persons living with HIV/AIDs who receive services from Grace House; 2) to evaluate whether the agency successfully fulfills its mission, goals, objectives, and needs.

Methods:
This evaluation project used the sequential mixed method design using multifold data sources to demonstrate the comprehensive effectiveness of the HUD-funded housing program and its relevant support services. A series of focus groups with clients, staff, employees, volunteers, and related program and service providers, and two types of surveys were used to collect quantitative data.

Key Findings
• Clients rate their general health as very good or good. But the SF Health Survey data found a bit worse condition than expected. They are suffering 1-2 physical symptoms and taking 4-5 medications daily.
• The IADL score found that clients maintain highly independent functional skills in managing daily living.
• The CS – 9 scores confirmed that most clients in the intervention group are happy about their life situation, but are not happy with financial security.
• The CSQ – 8 scores revealed that most clients are very satisfied with the services and programs they received.
• The significant changes after GH intervention prove that clients have more accessibility to specialized medical care after coming to Grace House.
• The data result confirms that most community stakeholders strongly agree that the successful operation of GH has positive impacts on individuals, families, communities, and society.
• Community stakeholders acknowledged four areas of service/programs as the most needed by this community – AIDS Drug program, Housing, Physical and Mental Health Care -

Implications:
The “social” value-based return on investment is evidently documented beyond the monetary outputs and activities. This is an example for social workers to receive the federal grant and implement the program and evaluate the desired outcome.