Blog
The fundamental role of evidence in pay for success
Social science is all about evidence building. When a social program delivers services to improve outcomes for a population, researchers evaluate how well that intervention accomplishes these predetermined goals. Over time, testing hypotheses through evaluation builds bodies of evidence that can improve future service delivery. In pay for success (PFS), a strong evidence base contributes to the development of projects in three major ways: it guides PFS project scoping, informs PFS program selection, and influences the terms of the deal.
Blog
Can pay for success help reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jail?
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 44 percent of people in jail have a history of mental health disorders [1] and roughly 2 million people with serious mental illnesses are booked into jails across the United States each year.
Blog
Exciting interim results show Denver’s supportive housing social impact bond is paying off
Less than two years into the Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond (SIB)—a five-year project that provides affordable housing and wraparound services to support people experiencing chronic homelessness and cycling in and out of jail—the initiative is paying off for the City of Denver, homeless residents, and investors.
Blog
Can pay for success be a tool to fight blighted properties?
Cities of all sizes and geographies across the United States are struggling with vacant and abandoned homes. Whether driven by the more recent 2008 housing market crash or longer term economic restructuring in older, industrial “legacy cities,” cities across the United States are struggling to address the economic and social costs associated with vacant and abandoned homes. Pay for success (PFS) has the potential to finance physical social infrastructure projects, and it may be a tool to tackle the issue of blight as well.
Blog
Lessons learned from a community of practice on early childhood education and pay for success
In December 2016, the Department of Education awarded eight grants to state and local governments and a charter school to conduct Early Childhood Education (ECE) Pay for Success (PFS) feasibility studies. Each grantee sought to use a PFS structure to expand, enhance, or develop their ECE program. With support from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Urban Institute built a community of practice for these eight grantees. Over a year and a half, the Urban Institute held two in-person workshops, four web meetings, and phone calls focused on data, evaluation, preschool outcomes and measures, collaboration with stakeholders, and project sustainability.