Comparing Tenant and Neighborhood Characteristics of the VA's Project- vs. Tenant-Based Supportive Housing Program in Los Angeles County

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-Veteran Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) program uses project- and tenant-based vouchers to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless Veterans. We compared Veteran characteristics, health service utilization, and neighborhood characteristics between HUD-VASH participants with project-based (n=114) vs. tenant-based (n=978) vouchers. We found that project-based voucher holders were older and more ill than tenant-based voucher holders. Project-based vouchers were also associated with higher-quality neighborhoods and higher rates of health service utilization than tenant-based vouchers. With the limited availability of project-based vouchers, juxtaposed with the increased service use and better neighborhood quality with this voucher type, our findings suggest a need to think strategically about how best to allocate housing vouchers to meet homeless Veteran's needs.