Closing the Front Door: Creating a Successful Diversion Program for Homeless Families

This paper from the National Alliance to End Homelessness describes how communities can begin diverting families from entering their homelessness assistance systems.

Diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness for people seeking shelter by helping them identify immediate alternate housing arrangements and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing. Diversion programs can reduce the number of families becoming homeless, the demand for shelter beds, and the size of program wait lists.