→ Effectiveness: Outcomes achieved by clients→ Cost effectiveness: Outcomes relative to
costs net of cost offsets or program savings→ Homelessness programs may improve client
outcomes which may result in decreased utilisation of health and justice services, reduced
child residential care costs, lower housing management costs, lower income support
payments and higher revenue from increased income tax payments. When costed, such
impacts represent whole-ofgovernment savings or cost offsets to the provision of …

The effectiveness of homelessness programs measures the extent to which such programs
improve the outcomes of those they assist while the cost-effectiveness of programs sets
these outcomes relative to the net cost of delivering services. Cost effectiveness studies,
therefore, seek to answer the following questions: What outcomes do programs deliver for
their clients and the community per net dollar spent? How does this' net return'compare with
alternative uses of the same resources?