Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities - LEO - at Notre Dame

10/15/2026

📣 New TED Talk alert! 📣

Hear Destination: Home CEO Jennifer Loving share how we can stop homelessness before it starts.

When LEO researchers measured the impact of Destination: Home's homelessness prevention program, they found fast, targeted, and flexible support was key to keep families housed. As Jen says, "This isn't just anecdotal, it's been rigorously evaluated."

Now, Destination: Home and LEO are bringing the prevention model to 10 communities across the country. LEO is honored to serve as the national evidence partner for Right at Home USA, a national movement to stop homelessness before it starts.

Watch Jen's full TED Talk:

Homelessness can feel like an issue that’s too big and complicated to fix, something we've learned to walk past. Jen Loving, who leads the nonprofit Destination: Home, has spent her entire life proving that mindset is wrong. She shows why we must stop waiting until someone is pushed outside before...

10/12/2026

We are at an exciting point in our work.

This year, Holly Kuzmich joined LEO as managing director. Hear what drew her to LEO and how we plan to expand our impact.

Read My LEO Why in the latest edition of Illuminate: https://bit.ly/4ztvWB0

10/09/2026

We're hiring!

Turn competing priorities into clear plans and strong results as LEO’s next Policy and Impact Program Manager. In this role, you'll bring structure, momentum, and coordination to the projects, events, and partnerships that move evidence into action.

🗓 Apply at https://bit.ly/47F8rca by 10/18/26
💼 Salary up to $60,000

10/08/2026

📣 New commentary in Indiana Capital Chronicle 📣

"Rising prices may be here to stay, but poverty doesn't have to be." —Patrick Turner, assistant professor of economics and LEO researcher

LEO partners with service providers, like Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc. Padua program and Goodwill Excel Center, to produce rigorous research that identifies programs and policies that help people move permanently out of poverty.

We need to use our evidence for good—to expand opportunities and help more families thrive.

Click to read more in Indiana Capital Chronicle: https://bit.ly/4jcXC8y

10/07/2026

Join us for the launch of the Homelessness Evaluation Resource Hub!

Our partner J-PAL North America is launching the Hub to increase access to evidence-informed housing stability by providing essential tools for policymakers and practitioners to evaluate the impact of their programs, expand the body of evidence on effective programs and policies that reduce homelessness, and leverage existing evidence to inform programs and decision-making.

Join the Hub's Scientific Advisor David Phillips (LEO's Director of Research) and Laina Sonterblum (J-PAL's Policy and Communications Manager) to learn how these newly developed resources might be of use in your work!

On this webinar, attendees will:
🔎Receive an overview and demonstration of the Hub
❓Get to ask questions about the resources
🎊Have the chance to win a prize!

📅 Tuesday, October 27
🕝 2:30-3:30 pm ET
🔗Register today https://bit.ly/4dsDZpc

10/05/2026

Our new edition of Illuminate is here!

Hear directly from our partners who authored nearly all the articles in this edition. Their stories remind us what’s possible when evidence and action coincide.

“We are keeping dignity in the design. Dignity in our research. Dignity in our services. Dignity at the heart of our community.” — Dignity in the design, page 4

📖 Read the full issue https://bit.ly/4AR7NG1

10/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined LEO's Annual Fall Weekend!

Every fall the LEO community comes together to reconnect with each other and reflect on the past year. This year, we shared proof of impact with stories and data from LEO projects.

The weekend was a true celebration of LEO's people and partners. Congratulations to LEO co-founder Jim Sullivan who was awarded the Gilbert L. Schaefer endowed professorship at the LEO reception!

Special thanks to Destination: Home CEO Jen Loving for reflecting on her organization's strong partnership with LEO and the journey to launching Right at Home.

09/29/2026

Happy 14th Birthday LEO!

Today staff gathered to celebrate LEO's birthday, with fun activities including bingo and building popsicle stick bridges.

LEO co-founder Jim Sullivan reflected on LEO's purpose: "The reason we do this work is to have an impact on the world."

Here's to another year of generating evidence, forming partnerships, and making an impact!

09/28/2026

"Evidence-based success for Catholic Charities Fort Worth regarding Padua was always the goal."

Padua by Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc. provides personalized, long-term support to help families achieve stability in areas such as employment, housing, education, and health.

Our rigorous impact evaluation of Padua found that participants were 25% more likely to secure full-time employment, earned 46% higher incomes among those not employed at program start, and were 64% more likely to find stable housing among those not stably housed at program start.

Padua's impact is expanding. The first replication site launched in South Bend Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc.this spring and the second site is set to launch in Chicago Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago next month.

Click to read more in The Fort Worth Report: https://bit.ly/4AC3uy5

08/27/2026

Turn your evidence into action!

Next month, join the community, with J-PAL North America and Carrie Cihak, to learn the ins and outs of building strong partnerships and bringing programs to scale. You’ll hear directly from the research, non-profit, and local government leaders behind these efforts - how they built trust, collaboration, shared purpose, and the evidence that has continued to expand impact to many more people.

In this webinar, Patrick Turner, Betsy Delgado, Alicia Modestino, Allison Vernerey, and Kalila Jackson-Spieker will discuss:
- Scaling and replicating with purpose
- Building partnerships to last
- Incorporating evidence
- Maintaining fidelity and flexibility

🔗Register NOW https://bit.ly/4gAGVRl