Project Description

Launched in December 2010, the HOST program is a multi-site demonstration designed to test innovative wraparound services—including housing upgrades and employment assistance for low-income families living in a range of public and mixed-income housing.  The overall goal of the HOST demonstration was to develop comprehensive, coordinated service models to help vulnerable low-income families address traditional barriers to self-sufficiency, including poor physical and mental health and a history of weak connection to the labor force.

DIR conducted parent and youth surveys in the four pilot public housing sites. Because of the diverse nature of the program sites, the adult surveys were made available for administration in English, Spanish, Somali, and Swahili.

The research objectives of this study necessitated interviewing one parent and a designated child within a single family—or a “parent-youth dyad.” Parents participated in a one-hour survey using CATI, field-initiated, and hardcopy administration. A 30-minute self-administered survey was conducted with randomly selected focal children between the ages of 12 and 16. All youth surveys were administered in-person using an audio recording of the survey with responses recorded on a paper and pencil response sheet.