Sarah B. Hunter

Sarah B. Hunter is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and Director of the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness. She is also a Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist at RAND. Her research focuses on improving services for vulnerable populations, implementation science, and program evaluation, with specialization in homelessness, substance use disorder treatment, and mental health. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and has been featured in major media outlets like the New York Times and NPR.

Education: PhD and MA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara; BA in Psychology from New York University.

Research Interests: Her work emphasizes community capacity-building, health care integration, and evidence-based program delivery. She has led studies on veteran homelessness, housing policy, and substance use treatment, often highlighting systemic challenges and advocating for policy reforms.

Recent Articles Trends: Her recent publications analyze housing-first programs, opioid treatment accessibility, and longitudinal studies on homelessness in Los Angeles. These works often bridge policy and practice, emphasizing scalable solutions and cost-effectiveness.

Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

Advising & Grants: Served on NIH grant review panels and the Veteran and Community Oversight Board. Played key roles in federal initiatives like the Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health committee.

Labs/Teams: Leads the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness and collaborates with the Implementation Research Institute at Washington University.