Policy Studies

The Policy Analysis Center is committed to providing information that will be useful to the health and human services community toward improving the quality of life for all Howard County residents.

As important policy issues related to these areas are identified and warrant attention by the Center, they will be addressed in the form of policy related papers and studies. The information that surfaces from these efforts will be made widely available to non-profit organizations, public agencies and the general public through dissemination on this website.

Howard County: Households at Risk of Homelessness Indicators, 2011 Report

For more than ten years, advocates and human service providers have worked together to address the issues of homelessness in Howard County.This report was compiled at the same time the Plan to End Homelessness was being completed.This research supports the Plan and elaborates on issues related to attempting to find those who might be at risk of becoming homeless.The Center’s report on Self-Sufficiency Indicators also informs the discussion. Of particular interest is identifying ways in which advocates and providers can help prevent homelessness and developing tools that will help in the process. Click here for the full report.

Considerations in Establishing the Downtown Columbia Community Housing Foundation (DCCHF), March 2010

The Policy Analysis Center provides the community with a new capability to provide useful information to community based organizations in the areas of health and human services. Its overarching goal is to improve the community’s ability to conduct analysis that addresses the needs of human service organizations throughout the County. Click here for the full report.

Howard County Maryland Self Sufficiency Indicators Report, 2010

This is the third annual update of the Self Sufficiency Indicators report and was compiled by Nancy Weber with the assistance of many members of the ACS Public Policy Committee and agencies who provide services in the areas covered by this report. Click here for the full report.

Measuring Material Hardship of Howard County, Maryland Households, 2008

The Policy Analysis Center has developed an Index for use in measuring the level of economic hardship for households in Howard County, Maryland. The Index, called the “Self-Sufficiency Index,” and an accompanying set of measurement indicators referred to as the “Public Assistance Matrix” will be updated annually and used to assess the extent to which households in the county are unable to be financially independent. Click here for the full report.