Evaluating the relationship between rental assistance and self-reliance and well-being among displaced populations: A propensity score–matched analysis

Background Housing insecurity is a central but understudied determinant of self-reliance and psychosocial well-being among forcibly displaced populations. This study evaluates the relationship between a nine-month rental assistance program on self-reliance and multiple dimensions of well-being among female-headed Venezuelan migrant households in Colombia. Methods To construct a matched control group, 517 treated and 549 eligible untreated households were matched using one-to-one nearest-neighbor propensity score matching with replacement The average treatment effect for the treated was estimated at 2, 6, and 12 months after the intervention ended. Outcomes included overall self-reliance, peace of mind, life satisfaction, agency, self-efficacy, time availability, sense of community, acculturation, and per capita household income. Results Matched analyses showed that rental assistance yielded statistically significant improvements across nearly all outcomes at every follow-up. At 2 months post-endline, treatment households scored 0.32–0.89 standard deviations higher than matched controls across all outcomes; except for per capita household income, these gains were sustained through 12 months post-endline. Random-effects models confirmed that early advantages persisted over time, with comparatively larger improvements observed in peace of mind and self-efficacy over time. While some treatment affects attenuated modestly for community-related outcomes, treatment households consistently outperformed controls. Conclusions Findings provide evidence that short-term rental assistance may durably improve self-reliance and psychosocial well-being among displaced households. By alleviating housing costs, stabilizing living conditions, and enhancing perceived safety, rental assistance appears to reduce scarcity-related stress and enable longer-term planning and economic recovery. Housing support may therefore represent an efficient and impactful intervention for vulnerable displaced populations.