Draft:Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities

The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) is a research center at the University of Notre Dame, established in 2012 by economics professors Bill Evans and Jim Sullivan. LEO specializes in applying rigorous research methods to evaluate and address poverty in the United States.

History and Mission

LEO was founded in 2012 by Bill Evans and Jim Sullivan, faculty members from Notre Dame's Department of Economics. The lab emerged from a partnership between Notre Dame and Catholic Charities USA, one of the largest private providers of services to impoverished families in the country.

LEO has since established partnerships with over 90 entities in the social service sector, ranging from nonprofit agencies to government offices and health services. It was initially unique for its focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in domestic poverty research.

LEO operates with a belief that academic researchers, service providers, and policymakers are integral in ending poverty. The lab's mission is to partner with service providers to conduct impactful evaluations of anti-poverty programs. LEO's vision is to disrupt the status quo in the anti-poverty space, fostering a culture of rigorous research and evidence-based interventions.

Research and Impact

LEO's research is primarily focused on creating evidence to influence public policy, philanthropy, and the social service industry in addressing poverty. The lab utilizes randomized controlled trials in partnership with various social service providers.

Notable Studies and Outcomes

Veteran Homelessness

• The results of the HUD-VASH study strongly support the use of housing vouchers to reduce veterans' homelessness.
• Between 2008 and 2017, researchers found that the number of permanent supportive housing units per 100,000 people increased by 45%. The results suggest that 60% of this increase was due to the HUD-VASH vouchers. Each additional voucher also decreased the number of homeless veterans by 1.
• The program was especially effective for unsheltered veterans, as 55% of the program's reduction in homelessness came from those who were unsheltered.

Stay the Course

• Impact on Persistence and Completion: The Stay the Course program significantly increased college persistence and degree completion among low-income community college students, with a 25 percentage point increase in persistence through the sixth semester and a 16 percentage point increase in the likelihood of earning an associate's degree.
• Gender-Specific Results: The impact was especially pronounced for women, who were 2.7 times more likely to persist in college and saw a 31.5 percentage point increase in the probability of earning an associate's degree.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Despite the program's cost of $5,640 per student over three years, the earnings gains of graduates offset the program cost within just over four years in the workforce.

Homelessness Prevention Call Center

• Immediate Impact of Funding: Availability of funding at the time of a call significantly reduced the likelihood of homelessness, with an 88% reduction after 3 months and a 76% reduction after 6 months.
• Reduction in Shelter Use: Funding availability reduced time spent in homeless shelters by 84% over 6 months.
• Efficiency and Targeting: The study suggests that emergency financial assistance is most effective when targeted at the lowest-income households, offering a cost-effective alternative to the high costs associated with homelessness.
• Crime and Health Outcomes: Callers who received funding were 51% less likely to commit violent crimes and 36% less likely to require healthcare due to assault.

Goodwill Excel Center

• Labor Market Outcomes: Excel Center graduates were significantly more likely to be employed and experienced a 38% increase in earnings 5 years after applying. Graduates were also 53% more likely to be employed in the health sector.
• Educational Attainment: Participants who earned their Core-40 High School diploma through the Excel Center showed a 12.2 percentage point increase in formal sector employment compared to those who did not enroll or did not complete the program.

Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention

• Long-term Impact of EFA: Emergency financial assistance recipients were three times less likely to become homeless over a 12-month period, indicating enduring benefits beyond temporary relief.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: For every $1 spent on emergency financial assistance, $2.47 in benefits were realized, considering the reduction in criminal justice involvement and hospital visits for those who might otherwise become homeless.

Achievements

The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame has conducted extensive training sessions in impact evaluation for over 100 government and nonprofit service providers. Its rigorous approach to evaluating social programs has led to two of its evaluated programs being recognized by the What Works Clearinghouses, a testament to the lab's commitment to evidence-based interventions in combating poverty.

Co-founders Jim Sullivan and Bill Evans have engaged in significant advocacy and advisory roles to influence policy based on empirical evidence. Sullivan has participated in multiple briefings on Capitol Hill, including testifying at a Congressional hearing focused on evidence-based policy. He shared insights and recommendations from LEO's research before the Commission for Evidence-Based Policymaking and was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the Commission on Social Impact Partnerships. These contributions reflect Sullivan's active involvement in promoting the use of rigorous research to inform social policy.

Bill Evans has also directly engaged with policymakers, conducting a legislative policy briefing on Capitol Hill. He presented findings from LEO's research on the HUD-VASH program, which offers housing vouchers to veterans, to advocate for the program's expansion. This is indicative of LEO's broader efforts to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations.

Furthermore, LEO's expertise in evidence-based policy has been recognized by federal agencies. The lab was invited to contribute its research findings to inform the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) rules regarding Farm Bill reform. This invitation underscores the relevance and impact of LEO's research in shaping national policies aimed at reducing poverty and improving social welfare.

Leadership

• William Evans: Co-founder and Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Economics, specializing in health economics, education economics, and public finance.
• James Sullivan: Co-founder and Professor of Economics, focusing on poverty and inequality measurement, and the impact of anti-poverty programs.
• Heather Reynolds: Michael L. Smith Managing Director, with a background in social work and nonprofit strategy, and former CEO of Catholic Charities Fort Worth.

External links

• leo.nd.edu