Implementing Temporary Financial Assistance for Homelessness Prevention: a CFIR-Guided Study of Provider Perspectives

Housing insecurity is a growing public health concern with significant implications for efforts to prevent homelessness. Temporary financial assistance (TFA) is an upstream intervention designed to prevent homelessness by addressing urgent housing needs through flexible, short-term financial support. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), this study examined providers’ perspectives on implementing TFA across nine Arizona organizations and explored how these determinants may inform the selection and measurement of implementation outcomes. Thirty-six participants participated in interviews or focus groups to share their experiences implementing TFA. Using deductive thematic analysis, findings highlight key internal and external barriers such as complex eligibility criteria, administrative burdens, and limited affordable housing that may have affected the adoption, implementation, and sustainment of TFA delivery. Facilitators included provider training, cross-sector partnerships, and strong vendor relationships that improved adoption and integration of TFA across service settings. Providers used a range of implementation strategies, including reimbursement systems, promise-to-pay arrangements, and tiered intake processes, to overcome systemic barriers and promote recipients’ housing stability. Although funding constraints and contextual challenges limited sustainment, providers demonstrated a strong commitment to adapting implementation approaches to meet recipient needs. This study contributes to the growing evidence based on the practical application of implementation science in homelessness prevention, offering insights into how determinants of implementation can strengthen intervention delivery in diverse settings. Findings inform policy, research, and practice aimed at optimizing implementation outcomes for homelessness prevention interventions.