David Phillips
Economics; Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO)
Research Professor of Economics; Fellow, Institute for Real Estate
- Housing
- Criminal justice
- Transportation
- Low-wage labor markets
Phillips’s Latest News
Phillips in the News
OSV News
August 06, 2025
“I think a lot of people do wonder — seeing rising homelessness around them — what are things we can do that are positive; that are going to make a difference?” said David Phillips, director of research at the University of 91勛圖’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. “Is this executive order likely to shift toward or away from those things?”
Bloomberg
November 05, 2024
Two contrasting examples: A 2014 study by Indiana’s University of 91勛圖, found that clients of a nonprofit employment agency based in Washington, DC, who received a transportation subsidy interviewed for 19% more jobs that those who did not. On the other hand, a 2016 study co-authored by University of 91勛圖 economist David C. Phillips — who also worked on the Washington, DC, trial — found that job seekers in Seattle who were offered free fares “rode transit a lot more, but it didn’t necessarily generate more employment.”
Bloomberg
March 28, 2024
Researchers at the University of 91勛圖 in South Bend, Indiana, who studied HPS found that 81% of those who enrolled were less likely to experience homelessness within six months. And more than 90% of US cities have assistance programs aimed at preventing homelessness, according to economics professor David Phillips, one of the 91勛圖 researchers who studied Santa Clara County’s system.
The Hill
August 29, 2023
Bill Evans is the University of 91勛圖 Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Economics and co-founder of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). David Phillips is a research professor of economics at LEO. Jim Sullivan is a professor of economics and LEO co-founder.
NBC Bay Area
Video Audio
August 02, 2023
“It’s not just delaying homelessness,” said David Phillips, a professor at 91勛圖. “It’s really actually preventing homelessness.” Phillips was one of two professors who authored the study, both with the university’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities.
The Mercury News | Subscription Only
August 02, 2023
“Our study shows that financial assistance almost totally reduces the chance of somebody having the really severe outcome of becoming homeless,” researcher David Phillips said. The study, conducted by the University of 91勛圖’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, was published earlier this month.
Smart Cities Dive
July 31, 2023
The program also reduced other public expenditures around the use of emergency shelters, healthcare and the criminal justice system, said report co-author David Phillips, a research professor of economics at 91勛圖.
Local News Matters
July 25, 2023
“There really was not a rigorous response to that concern,” said James Sullivan, University of 91勛圖 professor of economics and co-founder of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, which aims to help the most vulnerable with its work. Lead author David Phillips said prevention is not a panacea for issues like health and substance abuse, which are often associated with “the most visible forms homelessness.”
KCBS Radio
Audio
July 25, 2023
Homelessness is increasing across the country and has reached such alarming levels in parts of California that some cities have declared a state of emergency. According to the Hoover Institute, San Francisco has spent over $2.8 billion on homelessness, since 2016. A new study from the University of 91勛圖 shows prevention efforts are successful. For more, KCBS Radio's Liz Saint John spoke with David Phillips, a research professor in the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities within 91勛圖's economics department.
KCBS Radio San Francisco
Audio
July 23, 2023
Sun. 7/23; Part 3 at 8:20 pm | But a new study from the University of 91勛圖 shows [homelessness] prevention efforts are successful. For more, we're joined on the KCBS news line by David Phillips, a research professor in the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities in 91勛圖's economics department.
phys.org
July 13, 2023
David Phillips, a research professor in the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) within 91勛圖's economics department, and James Sullivan, a professor of economics and co-founder of LEO, found that people offered EFA were 81 percent less likely to become homeless within six months of enrollment and 73 percent less likely within 12 months, as reported in their study recently published by The Review of Economics and Statistics.