As per my interview with the program director at The Salvation Army, I would go further to recommend more focus on evaluating two services offered by the agency.

1. Counseling and Outreach Programs

Program Goal: To offer therapy and crisis intervention necessary for personal and household homeless clients to develop healthy mental well-being and increased self-sufficiency.

Evaluation Question: To what extent do the counseling and outreach programs offered by The Salvation Army contribute to improved mental health and housing outcomes for their clients?

Evidence: Successful achievement of the program goal would be demonstrated by:

• Improved mental health assessment scores for clients (e.g. reduced depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms)
• Increased rate of clients transitioning from emergency shelter to stable, permanent housing
• Higher client satisfaction and engagement with the support services

Data Collection:

• Pre- and post-program mental health assessments for clients
• Tracking of client housing status throughout program participation
• Client satisfaction surveys and feedback

1. Transitional Housing and Support Services

Program Goal: To provide temporary housing, case management, and comprehensive support services that help homeless individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency and secure permanent, stable housing.

Evaluation Question: How effective are The Salvation Army's transitional housing and support services in helping clients move from homelessness to independent, permanent housing?

Evidence: Successful achievement of the program goal would be demonstrated by:

• Higher rate of clients transitioning from transitional housing to permanent, independent housing
• Reduced rate of clients returning to homelessness after exiting the transitional housing program
• Increased client self-sufficiency as measured by employment, income, budgeting skills, etc.

Data Collection:

• Tracking of client housing status before, during, and after program participation
• Measuring client progress on self-sufficiency indicators (employment, income, budgeting, etc.)

Client satisfaction surveys and feedback

In a bid to support the evaluation of these services, it would be critical to review scholarly sources backed by evidence-based practices in homeless services and transitional housing programs. For example, a study by Evans et al. (2021) on the policies to reduce and prevent homelessness, as well as the study from Byrne et al. (2023) addressing rapid re-housing. Such sources can help to set up guidance on the effective program models, critical metrics and the best relatable practices that can evaluate the effect of homeless services.

References

Byrne, T., Huang, M., Nelson, R. E., & Tsai, J. (2023). Rapid rehousing for persons experiencing homelessness: a systematic review of the evidence. Housing Studies, 38(4), 615-641.

Evans, W. N., Phillips, D. C., & Ruffini, K. (2021). Policies to reduce and prevent homelessness: what we know and gaps in the research. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 40(3), 914-963.