Hartman Submits Duke CTSI Population Health Improvement Co-Development Application
Kudos to Michelle Hartman and her entire team for the submission of her Duke CTSI Population Health Improvement Co-Development application entitled “Journey through to Housing: A Formative Evaluation of a Housing and Service Provider for Homeless Families in Durham” with the Families Moving Forward as a community partner. This proposal requests funding for a one-year period with a start date of July 1, 2018.
Housing is one of the most basic human needs and a significant determinant of health. Many Durham families lack access to affordable housing which contributes to homeless. Adults and children in families make up one-third of the homeless population in Durham and nearly 12 percent of the total Durham homeless population are children under the age of 18. Families Moving Forward (FMF) is the only agency in Durham focused exclusively on serving homeless families with children. FMF has been very successful in assisting families into permanent housing, however, they have not completed a formative evaluation to ensure that program offerings meet the unique and diverse needs of the homeless families they serve. Funds from this award would provide for an evaluation of services and programs at FMF, contribute to a better understanding of the issues facing homeless families in Durham and develop best practices models that support transitioning into permanent housing.
The purpose of this of this project is to complete a formative evaluation of FMF to ensure that current and future programming meet the unique needs of homeless families as they transition through the organization into permanent housing. We aim to answer the following questions: Do the programs and services offered at FMF align with the needs identified by homeless families with children as they transition from homelessness into permanent housing? How do participants perceive the programming and services offered at FMF help them develop confidence and self-sustainability? What additional services/programs should be offered through new development or engagement with community partners?