Massachusetts' REACH Program Evaluation Summary

Abstract
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development funded the New England Farm Workers' Council (NEFWC) to target a segment of NEFWC's LIHEAP population that is served by its Homeless Intercept Program (HIP) and Scattered Site Emergency Family Shelter Program (SSEFSP).

It was intended that these two programs would place at least 300 homeless or near-homeless households in permanent housing per year. Additionally, REACH services were to be provided to 200 of these households per year, for a total of 400.

Ninety-five percent (95%) of the eligible households live in the Springfield enterprise community. It was expected that the additional REACH services would help prevent the households from returning to homelessness. The households not receiving REACH services served as a control group for the project to test the hypothesis.

Grant Amount
$479,611, FY 1996 funds.

Duration
30 months

Project Goals

To reduce the energy costs of REACH low-income households.
To increase the regularity of home energy bill payments by participating households.
To increase energy vendor contributions towards reducing energy burdens of eligible households.

Client Eligibility Criteria
Low-income LIHEAP eligible clients, who were either just coming off or trying to prevent homelessness.

Client Services
The REACH program's services were to include the following: 1) referral and assessment – help with housing placement; 2) counseling and education – weatherization, conservation education, budgeting assistance; 3) vendor negotiation – on budget plans and arrearage reduction; 4) case management; and 5) follow-up at 30, 60, and 90 day intervals.

After clients were enrolled in the program, the REACH staff found its primary focus with clients was intensive case management. REACH staff provided education to help clients navigate the pitfalls of the early phases of utility deregulation. Additionally, they worked closely with the major utilities to provide workshops on conservation programs and budgeting for REACH participants.

Outcomes
Because REACH staff developed rapport with the two major utilities, both Northeast Utilities and Bay State Gas Company offered extended payment plans tailored to REACH family budgets. Northeast Utilities also offered a Halogen Replacement Torchiere Lamp Program, which was administered by REACH staff, and developed NUSTART, an arrearage forgiveness program. In February 1990, the NUSTART Program began accepting NEFWC customers. This payment incentive program was available to LIHEAP clients who were at least $100 in arrears and carried a delinquent balance for at least 60 days. At the conclusion of REACH, 235 electric customers had applied for NUSTART, with 45 of these coming from the REACH pool. While Northeast Utilities refused some applicants, no application from a REACH participant was denied. Since the negotiated budget payments was arranged between the customer and utility, this was an indicator of modifications in household behavior and a step toward self-sufficiency.

Over its 30-month life, the REACH project staff touched 660 households.

Comments
According to the project evaluator, "Families dealing with homelessness issues are generally crisis oriented. The REACH staff had difficulty maintaining contact with some of their clients once the immediate crisis was averted. AEFWC ultimately adjusted its REACH goals because follow-up with this transient, crisis-oriented population was not always possible."

Two major difficulties in evaluation of the NEFWC REACH grant were identified. One, the transient and crisis based nature of near homeless clients made regular contact and interviews required to complete evaluation surveys very difficult. Second, identifying energy specific issues and self-sufficiency progress in this transient client base is even more difficult.

Contact: David Fuller
Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development
(617) 727-7004, extension 520

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005