Critical Time Intervention
Society’s most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition including homeless individuals
Housing and Supportive Housing Interventions
Definition
Housing and Supportive Housing Interventions are defined by the CEBC as interventions that are targeted at, or can be used by, children, youth, and families to address housing instability, insecurity, and affordability issues, and to prevent and/or respond to homelessness. These can be interventions for children, youth, and families in general, or specifically targeted at families and youth involved with child welfare services, including youth aging out of foster care services.
Housing is considered a basic necessity—a prerequisite for meeting a person’s physiological and psychological needs. Unmet housing needs can have a profound effect on a person’s physical and mental health outcomes. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated that over 650,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States, which is the highest number on record since 2007. This represents a 12% increase from 2020. California accounted for almost 30% of the total homeless population in 2023.
Homelessness can be defined in different ways, but the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act defined it as “lacking a regular nighttime residence or having a primary nighttime residence that is a temporary shelter or other place not designed for sleeping.” Housing instability is the limited or uncertain availability of (or access to) stable, safe, adequate, and affordable housing.
Households are considered to be cost burdened if they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and severely cost burdened if they spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Cost-burdened households have little left over each month to spend on other necessities such as food, clothing, utilities, and health care. Black and Hispanic households are almost twice as likely as White households to be cost burdened.
Adults and children in families make up about 30 percent of the homeless population. A typical homeless family is comprised of a single mother with her two young children. Lack of affordable housing is a primary cause of homelessness in families since often one or both parents are working but not making a livable wage. Additionally, events such as illness, unemployment, accidents, and acts of violence limit the ability to secure stable and affordable housing. Finally, youth who have experienced foster care are at a high risk of becoming homeless, with some studies estimating that 31–46% of them will experience homelessness by age 26.
- Target population: Parents/caregivers, families, children, adolescents, and/or young adults (age <25)
- Services/types that fit: Rental subsidies and assistance, eviction prevention, shelters (congregate and otherwise), supportive housing, bridge housing, rapid rehousing, affordable housing programs, tax credits, vouchers, housing navigation, outreach, advocacy, case management, intensive wraparound services, and/or care coordination.
- Delivered by: Federal, state, and local agencies; social workers, counselors, behavioral health professionals, child welfare workers, trained paraprofessionals, peer partners, parent partners, public health professionals, medical providers, persons with lived experience
- In order to be included: The overall focus of the program must be housing-related and have a primary goal of preventing and/or reducing housing instability and/or homelessness.
- In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines housing related outcomes, such as decreases in housing instability or homelessness, improvements in housing cost burden, and reductions in overcrowding, doubling up, or couch surfing.
Definition
Housing and Supportive Housing Interventions are defined by the CEBC as interventions that are targeted at, or can be used by, children, youth, and families to address housing instability, insecurity, and affordability issues, and to prevent and/or respond to homelessness. These can be interventions for children, youth, and families in general, or specifically targeted at families and youth involved with child welfare services, including youth aging out of foster care services.
Housing is considered a basic necessity—a prerequisite for meeting a person’s physiological and psychological needs. Unmet housing needs can have a profound effect on a person’s physical and mental health outcomes. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated that over 650,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States, which is the highest number on record since 2007. This represents a 12% increase from 2020. California accounted for almost 30% of the total homeless population in 2023.
Homelessness can be defined in different ways, but the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act defined it as “lacking a regular nighttime residence or having a primary nighttime residence that is a temporary shelter or other place not designed for sleeping.” Housing instability is the limited or uncertain availability of (or access to) stable, safe, adequate, and affordable housing.
Households are considered to be cost burdened if they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and severely cost burdened if they spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Cost-burdened households have little left over each month to spend on other necessities such as food, clothing, utilities, and health care. Black and Hispanic households are almost twice as likely as White households to be cost burdened.
Adults and children in families make up about 30 percent of the homeless population. A typical homeless family is comprised of a single mother with her two young children. Lack of affordable housing is a primary cause of homelessness in families since often one or both parents are working but not making a livable wage. Additionally, events such as illness, unemployment, accidents, and acts of violence limit the ability to secure stable and affordable housing. Finally, youth who have experienced foster care are at a high risk of becoming homeless, with some studies estimating that 31–46% of them will experience homelessness by age 26.
- Target population: Parents/caregivers, families, children, adolescents, and/or young adults (age <25)
- Services/types that fit: Rental subsidies and assistance, eviction prevention, shelters (congregate and otherwise), supportive housing, bridge housing, rapid rehousing, affordable housing programs, tax credits, vouchers, housing navigation, outreach, advocacy, case management, intensive wraparound services, and/or care coordination.
- Delivered by: Federal, state, and local agencies; social workers, counselors, behavioral health professionals, child welfare workers, trained paraprofessionals, peer partners, parent partners, public health professionals, medical providers, persons with lived experience
- In order to be included: The overall focus of the program must be housing-related and have a primary goal of preventing and/or reducing housing instability and/or homelessness.
- In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines housing related outcomes, such as decreases in housing instability or homelessness, improvements in housing cost burden, and reductions in overcrowding, doubling up, or couch surfing.
Programs
Family Unification Program
Families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in either the imminent placement of the family’s child or children in out-of-home care or the delay in the discharge of the child or children to the family from out-of-home care and Youth 18 to 24 years of age (who have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care – or will within 180 days – and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.
LifeSet
Young adults between the ages 17 and 22 who are leaving the foster care, juvenile justice, and/or mental health systems
Community of Schools and Services Model
Vulnerable adolescents aged 12-18 years, who can be identified as at risk of homelessness while still attending secondary schools, and their families
Eva’s Family Reconnect Toolkit
Homeless and at-risk youth aged 16-24 interested in establishing, re-establishing and maintaining supportive relationships with their families
Foster Youth to Independence Initiative
Youth at least 18 years old and not more than 24 years old who left foster care at age 16 or older or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act; and are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Foyer Model
Young people aged 16-25 who have experienced homelessness
Housing Outreach Program – Collaborative
Youth between the ages of 16-25 who have recently transitioned out of homelessness
Pathways to Success
Youth and young adults aged 14-23 who are aging out of foster care and are at an increased risk of homelessness
Programs
Critical Time Intervention
Society’s most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition including homeless individuals
Family Unification Program
Families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in either the imminent placement of the family’s child or children in out-of-home care or the delay in the discharge of the child or children to the family from out-of-home care and Youth 18 to 24 years of age (who have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care – or will within 180 days – and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.
LifeSet
Young adults between the ages 17 and 22 who are leaving the foster care, juvenile justice, and/or mental health systems
Community of Schools and Services Model
Vulnerable adolescents aged 12-18 years, who can be identified as at risk of homelessness while still attending secondary schools, and their families
Eva’s Family Reconnect Toolkit
Homeless and at-risk youth aged 16-24 interested in establishing, re-establishing and maintaining supportive relationships with their families
Foster Youth to Independence Initiative
Youth at least 18 years old and not more than 24 years old who left foster care at age 16 or older or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act; and are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Foyer Model
Young people aged 16-25 who have experienced homelessness
Housing Outreach Program – Collaborative
Youth between the ages of 16-25 who have recently transitioned out of homelessness
Pathways to Success
Youth and young adults aged 14-23 who are aging out of foster care and are at an increased risk of homelessness
Topic Expert
The Housing and Supportive Housing Interventions topic area was added in 2026. Patrick Fowler, PhD, was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2026 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched.
Topic Expert
The Housing and Supportive Housing Interventions topic area was added in 2026. Patrick Fowler, PhD, was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2026 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched.