Participants received rental assistance vouchers that could be used to rent a housing unit in the private rental market. Units had to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards and be priced similarly to other units in the area. Local housing agencies worked in conjunction with local TANF agencies to provide comprehensive work-related services that were available in the broader community to assist participants with financial self-sufficiency. Housing agencies could terminate rental assistance for nonparticipation in required work or training activities. HUD renewed the voucher program annually for eligible participants until March 2004, when the vouchers were phased out and were incorporated into the Housing Choice Voucher program. Families previously or currently receiving TANF or those eligible to receive TANF benefits were eligible to participate in the Welfare-to-Work Voucher program. The program took place in six sites: Atlanta, GA; Augusta, GA; Fresno, CA; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and Spokane, WA.
- -0.04,1.50
Summary
The Welfare-to-Work Voucher program provided Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other very low-income families with housing assistance to help participants successfully transition from welfare to work.
Populations and employment barriers: Cash assistance recipients
Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain
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| Outcome domain | Term | Effectiveness rating | Effect in 2018 dollars and percentages | Effect in standard deviations | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase earnings | Short-term | 
|
$-418 per year
|
-0.020 | 8664 |
| Long-term |
|
$356 per year
|
0.017 | 8664 | |
| Very long-term |  |
||||
| Increase employment | Short-term |
|
-1% (in percentage points)
|
-0.019 | 8664 |
| Long-term |
|
0% (in percentage points)
|
-0.002 | 8664 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | 
|
$113 per year
|
0.041 | 7622 |
| Long-term |
|
$91 per year
|
0.033 | 7622 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase education and training | All measurement periods | |
* This intervention was assessed as supported for this domain, meaning it achieved one or more statistically significant, favorable effects. However, the intervention has an average effect size that is unfavorable because the average includes all effects in this domain - both statistically significant and favorable effects and statistically insignificant but unfavorable effects.
Effectiveness rating key:
-
Well-supported
-
Supported
-
Not supported
-
Mixed support
-
Insufficient evidence
-
No evidence
Studies of this intervention
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 High
|
1 |
Implementation details
State(s) where implemented
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