Supporting 18-25 Year-Olds Through Long-Term Mentoring Plus Financial Assistance in France (Pass' Accompagnement)

In order to be eligible for Pass'Accompagnement's program, candidates had to be between 18 and 25 years of age and satisfy other criteria related to their employment, housing, and family life. This particular evaluation focused on youths in the most precarious situations.

Individuals in the treatment group were assigned a mentor (usually a social worker or educator) with the task of advising them in matters of employment, education, and housing over the course of two years. The mentorship program was divided into three stages. During the first stage, mentors aided mentees in managing their finances and finding employment. In the second stage, mentors helped mentees find independent housing. If program participants accessed autonomous housing, the General Council pledged to pay the rent if the participant failed to do so over the following year and a half. During the third stage, mentors assisted mentees in maintaining their housing and financial situations. Additionally, participants could receive a grant of 1,800 Euros maximum (2,593 USD) which could be spent on a variety of things, including interview clothing and a driver's license, depending on the social worker's assessment. This flexible design was intended to allow the program to address the specific needs of each participant.

2010-04-01

2013-02-28

1. Personalized Support/Mentorship

2. Current Occupation

3. Housing

4. Stable Housing and Employment?

5. Incomes and Expenses

6. Budgetary Constraints

1. Personalized Support/Mentorship : Is the participant still working with their mentor?

2. Current Occupation : Is the participant currently employed, seeking employment, or pursuing job training?

3. Housing : What is the participant's housing situation?

4. Stable Housing and Employment? : Is the participant's housing and employment stable?

5. Incomes and Expenses : What are the participant's sources of income and expenses?

6. Budgetary Constraints : Has the participant fallen behind on payments or received medical care?

This study focuses evaluates the work done by Pass'Accompagnement, an organization which provides unemployed and homeless young people with personalized mentorship designed to help them find housing and work. Mentors also help their mentees develop the life skills necessary to live independently. The goal of this study is to determine to what extent Pass'Accompagnement succeeds at helping its beneficiaries find and keep stable work and housing.

This study takes the form of a randomized controlled trial which evaluated the effectiveness of Pass'Accompagnement's program relative to the effectiveness of standard, state-provided social services. From a sample of 981 eligible participants, researchers randomly assigned 486 youth to the treatment group and 495 youth to a comparison group. Comparison youth did not participate in the program, but could apply to other housing schemes.

Participants (both from the comparison and treatment groups) were reinterviewed one and two years after their inclusion in the trial.

Randomization done in office by a computer

The treatment was randomized at the individual level.

No

(no clusters)

1400 individuals

600 individuals treatment

800 individuals control

High unemployment, low wages, and expensive rents prevent many young adults from acquiring their own housing in parts of Europe. In response, many European countries have implemented programs that provide young adults with subsidized housing. Despite these provisions, there are still many young people in housing need. In 2010, the General Council of Bas-Rhin began offering 18-25 year olds residing in the department access to Pass'Accompagnment, a program which aims to improve the financial independence and social integration of young adults in the region.

Youth organizations working with the General Council identified interested youth. To be eligible, youth had to be between 18 and 25 years old, and lack financial support from their family. From a sample of 981 eligible participants, researchers randomly assigned 486 youth to the treatment group and 495 youth to a comparison group.

Comparison youth did not participate in the program, but could apply to other housing schemes. Those who were randomly selected to participate in the program were assigned a unique social worker with the task of advising them in matters of employment, education, and housing over the course of two years. If program participants found autonomous housing, the General Council made a commitment to their landlord that they would pay the rent if the participant failed to do so over the following year and a half. Additionally, participants could receive a grant of 1,800 Euros maximum (2,593 USD) which could be spent on a variety of things, including interview clothing and a driver's license, depending on the social worker's assessment. This flexible design was intended to allow the program to address the specific needs of each participant.

The evaluation found that Pass'Accompagnement helped youth find adequate and stable housing two years after the beginning of the program, but had no impact on their professional situation. These results suggest that long-term mentoring and housing support was not sufficient to help youth find jobs. Further iterations of the program could include specific measures geared more directly towards helping youth find employment.

"L'evaluation d'impact du Pass'Accompagnement a mi-parcours." Vera Chiodi, Bruno Crepon and Clemence Kieny.

https://www.povertyactionlab.org/sites/default/files/publications/243%20Pass%20Accompagnement-%20rapport%20mi-parcours%2002.2015.pdf