RAND Housing Center Publications

Research Summary

Apr 30, 2026

How the Breaking Barriers Program Is Building Pathways to Housing in Los Angeles

Researchers evaluating the housing program for justice-involved individuals and families found that while external factors may limit progress, the program met or exceeded goals, with more than half of the participants obtaining housing through the program.

Maya Buenaventura, Alex Sizemore, Austin Smidt, Sarah B. Hunter
Research

Apr 30, 2026

Breaking Barriers Rapid Rehousing Program for Justice-Involved Individuals in Los Angeles County: Local Evaluation Report

Justice-involved individuals often face significant challenges securing stable housing and employment. The authors of this report examine a program designed to help justice-involved individuals improve housing and employment outcomes.

Maya Buenaventura, Alex Sizemore, Austin Smidt, Sarah B. Hunter
Commentary

Mar 25, 2026

Making Housing Affordable: Q&A with Jason Ward

Jason Ward, director of the RAND Housing Center, discusses findings from his recent research, why housing has become so unaffordable, and ways to address the housing crisis.

Jason M. Ward
Research

Mar 23, 2026

Can Supportive Housing Help Reduce Criminal Justice Involvement?

Researchers evaluating the Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative (SCA-PFS) in Pima County, Arizona found that participation in the permanent supportive housing program is linked to a substantial decrease criminal justice involvement and related costs.

Maya Buenaventura, Roland Neil, Kara Jia, Sarah B. Hunter
Research

Oct 15, 2025

Growing Inaccuracies in Official Counts Jeopardize LA Homelessness Wins

Official homeless counts increasingly underestimate the number of people living on the street in three key LA neighborhoods. Without a correction, this undercount could divert resources from the communities that need them most.

Louis Abramson, Jason M. Ward, Sarah B. Hunter, Rick Garvey
Research

Sep 15, 2025

Improving Utilization in the Housing Choice Voucher Program

Housing vouchers and similar federal programs help about one in four eligible households, but local public housing agencies (PHAs) often underuse these resources. RAND researchers study the factors, policies, and practices affecting the ability of PHAs to maximize their use of HCV resources.

Christi Economy, Ryan Finnigan, Susha Roy, Jason M. Ward
Research

Aug 13, 2025

Association Between Housing Status and Mental Health and Substance Use Severity Among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Depression And/Or PTSD

Patients with opioid use disorder and mental health conditions who lack stable housing show higher symptom severity, underscoring the importance of addressing housing instability in primary care.

Lauren Kelly, Grace M. Hindmarch, Katherine E. Watkins, Colleen M. McCullough, Beth Ann Griffin, Lisa S. Meredith, Sapna J. Mendon-Plasek, Miriam Komaromy, Sarah B. Hunter
Research

Aug 11, 2025

Investigating Change in Psychosocial Outcomes for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles With and Without Pregnancy Experiences

Pregnancy may be associated with greater use of housing services among female young adults experiencing homelessness, and increased importance of cutting down alcohol and use of education services among males.

Graham DiGuiseppi, Rupa Jose, Elizabeth J. D'Amico, David J. Klein, Anthony Rodriguez, Eric R. Pedersen, Joan S. Tucker
Podcast

Duration 41:31

Aug 7, 2025

Why Is It So Expensive to Build Apartments in California?

Building multifamily housing in California costs more than twice what it costs in Texas. What's driving this? And how might California address its housing crisis?

Jason M. Ward
Video

Aug 4, 2025

A Discussion on Recent Trends Among the Unsheltered in Los Angeles

RAND experts discussed findings from their Los Angeles Longitudinal and Demographic Survey that examines the number of people living unsheltered in the areas of Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice.

Louis Abramson, Rick Garvey, Sarah B. Hunter, Jason M. Ward, Brittney Weissman
Research

Jul 1, 2025

New Strategies Are Needed to Engage People Who Are Unhoused in Los Angeles

A count of unsheltered people in Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice found a drop of 15 percent from the prior year. But 40 percent of them are “rough sleeping”—living without a tent, makeshift shelter, or vehicle. They may be difficult to engage and move into housing.

Louis Abramson, Sarah B. Hunter, Jason M. Ward, Michelle Bongard, Rick Garvey
Research

Jun 18, 2025

Barriers Faced by People Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles When Filing Social Security Disability Appeals: A Qualitative and Community-Engaged Study

This article examines barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County when filing a Social Security Administration disability program appeal after receiving an initial denial.

Alex Sizemore, Jordy Coutin, Philip Armour

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Research and Commentary

Featured

How the Breaking Barriers Program Is Building Pathways to Housing in Los Angeles

Making Housing Affordable: Q&A with Jason Ward

Can Supportive Housing Help Reduce Criminal Justice Involvement?

Growing Inaccuracies in Official Counts Jeopardize LA Homelessness Wins

Housing Research and Commentary

Error

How the Breaking Barriers Program Is Building Pathways to Housing in Los Angeles

Breaking Barriers Rapid Rehousing Program for Justice-Involved Individuals in Los Angeles County: Local Evaluation Report

Making Housing Affordable: Q&A with Jason Ward

Can Supportive Housing Help Reduce Criminal Justice Involvement?

Growing Inaccuracies in Official Counts Jeopardize LA Homelessness Wins

Improving Utilization in the Housing Choice Voucher Program

Association Between Housing Status and Mental Health and Substance Use Severity Among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Depression And/Or PTSD

Investigating Change in Psychosocial Outcomes for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles With and Without Pregnancy Experiences

Why Is It So Expensive to Build Apartments in California?

A Discussion on Recent Trends Among the Unsheltered in Los Angeles

New Strategies Are Needed to Engage People Who Are Unhoused in Los Angeles

Barriers Faced by People Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles When Filing Social Security Disability Appeals: A Qualitative and Community-Engaged Study

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