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the best strategy for reducing family homelessness. This study was launched in 2008 to test the relative efficacy of several approaches, including priority access to long-term subsidies, temporary subsi- dies, project -based transitional housing, and usual care through the shelter system and other available supports. According to HUD's evaluation of long-term outcomes, priority access to housing choice vouchers significantly reduced the likelihood of homelessness, dou- bling up, and shelter stays three years after enrollment in the study. EVICTIONS AND FORCED RELOCATIONS The frequency and consequences of evictions and forced relocations have gained new attention from policymakers. According to the 2015 American Housing Survey, 7.5 percent of all renter households that moved in the prior two years did so because they were "forced to move by a landlord, a bank or other financial institution, the gov- ernment or because of a disaster or fire." It is difficult to know how many of these forced moves were due to formal evictions through the court system, informal evictions, or other events. Less is known about the relative effectiveness of strategies to reduce homelessness among the young. HUD's point -in -time estimates The Milwaukee Area Renters Study offers a more complete pic- found 36,000 unaccompanied homeless youths in January 2016, ture, reporting that 13 percent of renter households in the City of while the Homeless Management Information System shows that 137,000 unaccompanied homeless youths used the shelter system at some point in 2015. HUD continues to improve its data collection processes, and 2017 will be the initial year for estimating changes in the number of homeless youth over time. Findings from the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention Demonstration also highlight the unique physical and mental health needs of homeless veterans. For example, two-thirds of veterans in the dem- onstration reported experiencing serious depression, anxiety, or ten- sion—including 43 percent with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The project also revealed the need for service providers to have cultural competency in military norms and the ways in which veterans experience civilian life. A Milwaulcee Study Suggests that Informal Evictions May Be Twice as Frequent as Formal Evictions Share of Forced elders Final Evicl Building Condemnations 5% Land Forenlos 23% Milwaukee experienced a forced move within the two years pre- ceding the study. Of these moves, almost half (48 percent) resulted from informal evictions, 23 percent from landlord foreclosures, and 5 percent from building condemnations, and only a quarter were due to formal evictions (Figure 36). While not broadly generalizable, these estimates suggest that court records seriously understate the frequency of forced relocations of renters. In addition to stress and psychological trauma, evictions impose high costs on renter households in terms of both time and money, and can result in job absences, drain savings or increase debt, and damage credit histories. Forced moves can also disrupt children's school attendance and adults' employment options, particularly if the household moves to a new town or school district. And for the Low -Income Renters Are Likely to Live in Neighborhoods with Other Low -Income Households Average Share of Households to Neighborhood (Rsroontl 40 ___.......___...............................__.........................................._.. 30 Informal Evictions 20 48% 10 Notes Formal evictions are processed through the court system. Informal evictions include forted moves in cases where the mneais were threatened with eviction or moved in anticipation of eviction. Source: Milwaukee Area Renters Study data around in Desmond and Shollen oorger. 2015. Renters Eamtng UnderS20,000 All Renters All Households Household Income in Neighborhood IN Under $20,00l) -7$20,0060.9999 +i$%oodr -99.999 0$100,000 or Moro Note', Shams are calculated as the weighted average of households in each income categoryacross all US manus tracts. Sources, JCFIS tabulations of US Census Brom, 2015 American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates, and the JCHS Neighborhood Change Database. _ 35