Abstract
This report summarizes findings from an observational study of the New York City 2015 Moving On Initiative (MOI). The New York City Moving On initiative (MOI) launched in October 2015. The goal of this initiative was “to reinforce supportive housing tenant independence and choice by enabling residents who are capable and interested in doing so to leave supportive housing” (CSH, 2020a, p. 1). The initiative was led and managed by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and funded by the Robin Hood Foundation. CSH selected five permanent supportive housing (PSH) agencies to participate in the MOI via a Request for Proposals. Selected agencies were provided with a limited amount of funding to support dedicated staff time in helping residents during and after the move, and to cover costs associated with locating housing and moving. PSH residents from these programs were given the opportunity to apply for one of 125 tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers administered by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). To determine PSH residents’ capacity to move on, individuals who applied were assessed using the NYC Moving On Initiative 2015 Household Assessment (CSH, 2020b). In addition to a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, residents were provided with assistance from PSH case managers in the lead up to the move and for a minimum of six months after the move to support their transition in the community. The five participating PSH programs each developed their own strategies for the provision of preparatory, transition, and aftercare services, according to the CSH Program Profile (CSH, 2020a). The scope of work for the MOI stated that preparation services could include financial literacy education/assistance, credit rating assessment/improvement, and assistance with Section 8 voucher application and identifying apartments in the community. Transition services offered had to include assistance with locating and securing the housing unit, case management to support the transition including but not limited to assistance building linkages to community supports and services, such as mental and physical health services, substance use treatment, stores for groceries and other necessities, recreational activities and public transportation options, and support with landlord negotiations. Transition services could also include assistance with family reunification, as well as funds to cover broker fees, moving costs, utility deposits/arrears, and furniture/household items. Following the move, providers were required to offer voluntary aftercare support for at least six months after the move and to maintain contact with the person for at least the first six months after move-out, with a minimum of two check-ins that could either be in-person, by phone or by email. The aims of this study were: 1) To capture Moving On recipient outcomes regarding quality of life, health and recovery, community integration, service utilization, and housing stability; 2) To describe Moving On program implementation processes and experiences within and across the five different Moving On provider agencies; and 3) To identify the individual-, program- and system-level barriers to and facilitators of successful transition of tenants from PSH programs to independent living in the community. This report describes MOI recipient outcomes following the move from PSH over a twoyear period. Reports detailing the qualitative and program implementation-related analyses, as well as other analyses conducted with these study data thus far, are listed in the Appendix.