Insights From Developmental and Formative Evaluations: Developing and Implementing a Limited-Term Housing Mobility Program

This paper aims to demonstrate how evaluation methods can inform the development of a program, using the example of a novel housing mobility program. The limited availability of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and other affordable housing assistance restricts the ability to address US national housing needs; millions more households qualify for HCVs than receive them. Those with HCVs encounter challenges in using vouchers in so-called high-opportunity areas. To address the dearth of HCVs and difficulty using them, a collaboration between faculty at Ohio State University and the community developed a new housing mobility program to increase the affordable housing supply, engaging stakeholders to understand the needs of low-income renters who are less likely to obtain an HCV. This paper outlines the Families Flourish program's development using both developmental and formative evaluations, examining the progress of the implementation and immediate outcomes using mixed methods. The developmental evaluation process required collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, partners, and the project team. According to the formative evaluation of the pilot program, participants' experiences suggested that enhanced housing security was associated with improvements in physical and mental health for parents and their children, and that a more stable and safe neighborhood environment was similarly associated with gains in employment, education, and income. Throughout the process of evaluation, particularly the developmental evaluation, the evaluator's communication and collaboration skills were essential to the methodology. The study concludes with lessons learned, as well as recommendations for policy and directions for future research.