"BHHI is a really innovative initiative which brings together a cross section of people — I represent one of those as an academic researcher — with a shared mission to end homelessness and to use evidence to help inform policies to help end homelessness." - Meghan Morris, Associate Professor, UCSF Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology We collaborate with leading academic institutions, drawing from the expertise of UCSF faculty, researchers, and educators from across the United States. UCSF BHHI acts as a bridge between research and decision-making, facilitating common ground between the academic world and policymakers. Since our launch, we have

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Empowering Formerly Homeless Older Adults to Engage in Advance Care Planning in Permanent Supportive Housing (ACP-PSH): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Advance care planning (ACP) prepares people to make informed medical decisions that are best for them so their wishes can be honored in the case of serious illness or at the end of life.

California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness

Behavioral health challenges both contribute to and are exacerbated by homelessness. To better understand behavioral health and homelessness, we examined data from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness. Our latest report examines the relationship between homelessness, substance use, and mental health, providing critical insights for policymakers, program leaders, Continuum of Care leaders, and healthcare systems. Key Findings Nearly half (48%) of people experiencing homelessness in California have complex behavioral health needs—regular drug use, heavy drinking, hallucinations, or recent psychiatric hospitalization. About one-third (35%) report regular drug use; 42% reported that they began to use regularly after the first

The Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) provides accurate, timely policy-oriented research about homelessness for local, state, and national policymakers and practitioners. Funded by a generous gift from Marc and Lynne Benioff and based at the UCSF Action Research Center for Health Equity, BHHI aims to be a trusted source for evidence-based practice, policy, and scalable solutions—turning evidence into action to prevent and end homelessness.

Due to funding constraints, we are not currently recruiting for these programs. For updates, connect with us at the links below. Postdoctoral Scholars Program The BHHI postdoctoral scholars training program educates the next generation of strategic scientists empowered to address upstream causes of homelessness. Our projects rely on various research methodologies including quantitative methods, qualitative methods, or mixed methods and utilize a wide-ranging set of research designs including longitudinal, cross-sectional, quasi-experimental, natural experiments, implementation and translational science, and policy evaluation. Scholars work closely with BHHI faculty, including an assigned mentor from within BHHI, to conduct research related to homelessness and

The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative recently completed a new study to better understand homelessness across the state of California.

The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH) Lived Expertise Advisory Board is a group of 9 advisors from across the state of California who represent a range of lived or living experiences of homelessness—from rural and urban communities, living sheltered and unsheltered, young and old, in families and single. Our board members are integral advisors to UCSF BHHI staff in the development, implementation and dissemination of the CASPEH in the following ways: Reviewing survey questions and in-depth interview guides Developing Outreach and Community Engagement Strategies Interpreting Survey Findings Co-Writing Dissemination Materials Co-Presenting Study Findings to local and national

As communities struggle to address unsheltered homelessness with limited resources, it’s more important than ever to understand the most effective solutions. In January 2025, the City of Berkeley launched an effort to resolve a longstanding encampment at 2nd and Cedar Street, where most residents lived in oversized vehicles (primarily RVs). The City offered to buy oversized vehicles from residents and provided low-barrier non-congregate shelter with enhanced case management. Residents could choose to participate in one part of the program or both. At the City’s request, the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) is conducting a scientifically rigorous, independent evaluation

UCSF BHHI convened three community advisory boards (CABS) to collaborate with our researchers and staff throughout the duration of the California Statewide Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness. Together, these community advisors play a vital role in: Providing input into survey question design, sampling, and data collection strategies Helping craft best practices for community engagement across the counties where we conducted the survey Illuminating blind spots and providing feedback on issues our survey team may have missed or misinterpreted Interpreting study findings, shaping policy recommendations, and framing our data for maximum impact Lived Expertise Advisory Board The Lived Expertise Advisory Board

Fellows and staff share a community-first mindset at UCSF BHHI. We ask people what they need and conduct research underpinned by strategic science, while partnering with the communities most impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity. Our work aims to shift decision-making to communities by turning policy solutions and proven best practices into workable, successful, on-the-ground programs.

The COORDINATE Home (CrOss-sectOR Data INtegrAtion To End HOMElessness) team analyzes San Francisco’s Coordinated Case Management System (CCMS) to evaluate policy-relevant questions. CCMS links data on the use of the homeless, public health, substance use and mental health systems, jail, and ambulances.

Using both natural experiments and randomized controlled trials, we examine the impact of interventions. In natural experiments, we take advantage of the fact that lotteries or waitlists create naturally occurring control groups. We use these to examine the impact of an intervention, comparing those who received it to those who, due to resource limitations, didn’t. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compare the impact of an intervention for people randomly selected to receive different interventions. We employ randomized controlled trials when, due to resource limitation, the intervention will be offered to a subset of the population under ordinary conditions. RCTs are considered

“Housing is health, and health requires housing for so many of our most vulnerable Californians and Americans.” – Mark Ghaly, MD, MPH, California Health and Human Services Secretary The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative works with government partners and advises policymakers on best practices in their efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Government officials frequently ask or commission UCSF BHHI to conduct research projects aimed at answering specific policy questions. UCSF BHHI experts also testify to state, county, or local legislative bodies on homelessness or provide informal counsel in private settings. Learn more about our other partnerships

In collaboration with community partners in the Bay Area, UCSF BHHI is conducting the only randomized controlled trial in the U.S. focused solely on family homelessness.

The Home Safe program is a statewide effort to prevent and end homelessness among older adults and adults with disabilities served through Adult Protective Services (APS). Administered by the California Department of Social Services and implemented by county APS agencies, Home Safe provides flexible, short-term assistance to stabilize housing and respond to housing crises. In 2019, UCSF and CDSS conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the Home Safe Pilot Program and found evidence that Home Safe successfully stabilized many APS clients who were at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. Building on the findings of the pilot evaluation, CDSS engaged UCSF to

Health Outcomes of People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME) Since 2013, Dr. Margot Kushel has led the Health Outcomes of People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME) project, an NIA-funded longitudinal study involving hundreds of older adults (age 50 and older) experiencing homelessness. Based in Oakland, the study includes semi-annual visits for structured interviews, cognitive and physical assessments, as well as qualitative interviews, and ethnographic observations. With more than 30 peer reviewed publications thus far, the study has produced numerous findings relevant to exploring the causes and consequences of homelessness among older adults. For the