An evaluation by the RAND Corporation finds Los Angeles County’s Breaking Barriers program is helping justice-involved people secure and maintain housing while building long-term stability, officials announced Friday.
The program, operated by the county’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD), provides rental subsidies, case management and employment services to people exiting the justice system who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
According to the evaluation, 83% of participants receiving housing subsidies remained housed after one year, exceeding the program’s retention goal, while 56% of 460 participants studied obtained subsidies and secured housing.
“The RAND evaluation confirms what we see every day — when people have stable housing, consistent coordinated support, structure, and access to living-wage employment, they generally commit to the provided opportunities and rebuild their lives,” JCOD Director Songhai Armstead said in a statement.
Among participants who exited the program after receiving subsidies, 61% achieved positive outcomes such as taking over their own rent, transitioning to Section 8 housing or moving into other permanent housing, while 12% experienced negative outcomes including incarceration or a return to homelessness.
Officials said Breaking Barriers is a rapid rehousing and supportive services initiative designed to assist justice-involved individuals and families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, integrating rental subsidies, case management, housing navigation, employment services and flexible financial assistance to support long-term independence.
“Breaking Barriers was established to address the significant barriers people exiting justice settings face in accessing housing and employment,” Brilliant Corners CEO William Pickel said. “The findings from this evaluation — positive housing outcomes and stronger outcomes linked to higher service interactions — confirm why this program is such a vital resource to justice-impacted individuals, their families, and our community as a whole, and that housing is the key to breaking the cycle between incarceration and homelessness.”
Researchers also found that only 8% of all program exits were due to reincarceration, and higher engagement with program staff was linked to better housing outcomes and longer retention.
“The RAND evaluation highlights what makes Breaking Barriers effective — housing and employment working together,” said Mark Loranger, president and CEO of Chrysalis. “Stable housing creates the foundation, but employment is what allows people to sustain that stability over time.”
Breaking Barriers met or exceeded most benchmarks set by the California Board of State and Community Corrections, including goals for referrals, case management, employment placements and housing assistance, according to the research.
The evaluation covered March 2023 through December 2025 and drew on administrative data and interviews with participants and staff, though researchers said the findings show associations and do not establish cause and effect.