TRUE HAVEN Community Support and Housing Assistance to Reduce Gun Violence in New Haven Neighborhoods

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to reduce gun violence in seven socially vulnerable neighborhoods in New Haven by implementing a community-driven, strengths-based intervention. The study focuses on improving housing stability through financial assistance and education for individuals affected by incarceration and their families. Additionally, it seeks to support mental health by training trusted community members in trauma-informed counseling techniques. The intervention, called TRUE HAVEN, has two main parts providing housing support to people recently released from prison or those with family members currently incarcerated, and offering mental wellness training to neighborhood residents. Participants receive this intervention for six months. The study uses a stepped-wedge design to introduce the intervention sequentially across neighborhoods, comparing outcomes before and after implementation. Participants are involved in surveys and focus groups to assess the interventions acceptability and impact. Researchers will track changes in gun violence rates at the neighborhood level over 36 months, as well as measure social cohesion, self-efficacy, health and well-being, and financial security at multiple points. The study combines quantitative data with qualitative feedback to evaluate both effectiveness and implementation processes.

TRUsted rEsidents and Housing Assistance to Decrease Violence Exposure in New Haven