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Evaluating The Success Of A Homelessness Program Essay

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Logic Model Financial Literacy Evaluation Plan Research Design
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Outcome Evaluation for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Developments Homelessness Solutions Program

Introduction

Homelessness is a critical issue in Maryland, affecting individuals and families across the state. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Homelessness Solutions Program (HSP) is designed to address this problem by providing housing stability and financial education to individuals experiencing homelessness (Homeless Solutions Program, 2023). However, it is important to assess the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for improvement to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the community. This evaluation plan outlines the research design, data collection methods, and measures that will be used to assess the impact of the HSP on program participants.

Evaluation Objectives and Questions

The primary objective of the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness of the Homelessness Solutions Program in reducing homelessness in Maryland. The evaluation aims to answer the following research questions:

1. Are program participants able to secure and maintain stable housing?

2. Is there adequate and ongoing support and resources for program participants after they secure permanent housing?

3. Is the program culturally sensitive, competent, and accessible to an increasingly diverse population?

4. Are program participants consistently satisfied with the services and support they receive?

Additional questions that may be answered over the course of this evaluation include:

1. What are the specific outcomes of the program, such as the number of people who have been housed and the length of time they have remained housed?

2. What are the factors that contribute to the success or failure of the program?

3. Are there any unintended consequences or negative effects of the program?

Research Design

Quasi-experimental study using a pre-/post-test design with a comparison group will be used. This design was chosen because it allows for the comparison of program participants with a similar group of individuals who did not receive program services. A quasi-experimental study is a type of research design that aims to investigate the causal relationship between an intervention and an outcome (Bloomfield & Fisher, 2019). This type of study is similar to a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in that it involves comparing two or more groups, with one group receiving the intervention and the other(s) serving as a control group. However, unlike an RCT, participants in a quasi-experimental...

This can limit the researcher's ability to control for confounding variables, but can be useful in situations where random assignment is not feasible or ethical.

This study will compare the outcomes of the Homelessness Solutions Program to a group of individuals who did not receive the program's services. This will allow the evaluators to determine whether the program has had a significant impact on reducing homelessness in Maryland. For that reason, quasi-experimental design is appropriate. In this case, the comparison group consists of individuals experiencing homelessness who did not receive program services, and the program participants will be compared to this group...

…program's effectiveness in reducing homelessness, which is an Intermediate Outcome.

By measuring these outcomes, the evaluation will help to determine whether the program's Activities and Outputs are leading to the desired outcomes, as outlined in the logic model. Additionally, the evaluation will provide data on program effectiveness that can be used to make improvements to the program and ensure that it is achieving its intended goals.

Overall, the evaluation plan and logic model are complementary in that they both aim to measure the effectiveness of the HSP in reducing homelessness and improving financial literacy for program participants. The logic model provides a framework for understanding how the program is intended to achieve these goals, while the evaluation plan provides a method for assessing whether the program is achieving these goals in practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Homelessness Solutions Program has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness in the state. This evaluation plan outlines the measures and data collection methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals. Collecting data on measures that correlate with the logic model and analyzing the results appropriately, one can identify areas for improvement and ensure that the HSP is meeting the needs of the community. Ultimately, the goal of this evaluation is to promote sustainable housing stability and financial well-being for program participants, reduce rates of poverty and inequality in Maryland, and improve the…

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References

Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the AustralasianRehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/financial-well-being-scale/#:~:text=The%20scale%20is%20designed%20to%20allow%20practitioners%20and,provide%20them%20with%20security%20and%20freedom%20of%20choice.

Homeless Solutions Program. (2023). Maryland Department of Housing and CommunityDevelopment. Retrieved from https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HomelessServices/Pages/GrantFunding.aspx

National Alliance to End Homelessnes. (2014). Comprehensive assessment tool. Retrieved from https://www.pschousing.org/news/new-tool-prioritize-and-assess-needs-those-experiencing-homelessness#:~:text=The%20National%20Alliance%20to%20End%20Homelessness%20has%20released,transitional%20housing%2C%20rapid%20re-housing%2C%20and%20permanent%20supportive%20housing.

National Alliance to End Homelessnes. (2017). Homeless System Evaluator Tool. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/resource/homeless-system-evaluator-tool/

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