Characteristics of Public Housing Assistance Recipients in Washington State

Statewide data on clients served by Washington State Public Housing Authorities (PHA) were linked with the social service and other data in the Department of Social and Health Services Integrated Client Database. This report examines three questions about housing assistance recipients served by PHAs across the state: 1) To what extent do DSHS and PHAs serve the same individuals? 2) What are the characteristics and service use profiles of jointly served PHA-DSHS clients? And 3) to what extent do PHA clients differ from other DSHS clients? We find that almost all (97 percent) of PHA clients in Calendar Year 2013 were DSHS clients at some point, and 91 percent received a DSHS service that same year. Medical coverage and Basic Food were the most common DSHS services received by PHA recipients. PHA recipients were more likely to be older, female and African American, receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Basic Food, and have physical or behavioral health challenges, particularly among working age adults. The report was funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and also supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.