Ann Elizabeth Montgomery1, Jamison D Fargo2, Vincent Kane1, Dennis P Culhane3. 1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA. 2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA ; Utah State University, Department of Psychology, Logan, UT. 3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA ; University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Veterans are overrepresented within the homeless population compared with their non-veteran counterparts, particularly when controlling for poverty. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to prevent new episodes of homelessness by targeting households at greatest risk; however, there are no instruments that systematically assess veterans' risk of homelessness. We developed and tested a brief screening instrument to identify imminent risk of homelessness among veterans accessing VA health care. METHODS: The study team developed initial assessment items, conducted cognitive interviews with veterans experiencing homelessness, refined pilot items based on veterans' and experts' feedback and results of psychometric analyses, and assigned weights to items in the final instrument to indicate a measure of homelessness risk. RESULTS: One-third of veterans who responded to the field instrument reported imminent risk of homelessness (i.e., housing instability in the previous 90 days or expected in the next 90 days). The reliability coefficient for the instrument was 0.85, indicating good internal consistency. Veterans who had a recent change in income, had unpaid housing expenses, were living temporarily with family and friends, needed help to get or keep housing, and had poor rental and credit histories were more likely to report a risk of homelessness than those who did not. CONCLUSION: This study provides the field with an instrument to identify individuals and households at risk of or experiencing homelessness, which is necessary to prevent and end homelessness. In addition, it supports VA's investment in homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services for veterans who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness.
OBJECTIVES: Veterans are overrepresented within the homeless population compared with their non-veteran counterparts, particularly when controlling for poverty. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to prevent new episodes of homelessness by targeting households at greatest risk; however, there are no instruments that systematically assess veterans' risk of homelessness. We developed and tested a brief screening instrument to identify imminent risk of homelessness among veterans accessing VA health care. METHODS: The study team developed initial assessment items, conducted cognitive interviews with veterans experiencing homelessness, refined pilot items based on veterans' and experts' feedback and results of psychometric analyses, and assigned weights to items in the final instrument to indicate a measure of homelessness risk. RESULTS: One-third of veterans who responded to the field instrument reported imminent risk of homelessness (i.e., housing instability in the previous 90 days or expected in the next 90 days). The reliability coefficient for the instrument was 0.85, indicating good internal consistency. Veterans who had a recent change in income, had unpaid housing expenses, were living temporarily with family and friends, needed help to get or keep housing, and had poor rental and credit histories were more likely to report a risk of homelessness than those who did not. CONCLUSION: This study provides the field with an instrument to identify individuals and households at risk of or experiencing homelessness, which is necessary to prevent and end homelessness. In addition, it supports VA's investment in homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services for veterans who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness.
Authors: Marybeth Shinn; Andrew L Greer; Jay Bainbridge; Jonathan Kwon; Sara Zuiderveen Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-10-22 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Carol S North; Karin M Eyrich; David E Pollio; Douglas A Foster; Linda B Cottler; Edward L Spitznagel Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Julia Rozanova; Paraskevi Noulas; Kathleen Smart; Alicia Roy; Steven M Southwick; Larry Davidson; Ilan Harpaz-Rotem Journal: Psychiatr Q Date: 2016-09
Authors: Thomas Byrne; Jamison D Fargo; Ann Elizabeth Montgomery; Christopher B Roberts; Dennis P Culhane; Vincent Kane Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2015 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Richard E Nelson; Ying Suo; Warren Pettey; Megan Vanneman; Ann Elizabeth Montgomery; Thomas Byrne; Jamison D Fargo; Adi V Gundlapalli Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2018-09-23 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: John R Blosnich; Mary C Marsiglio; Melissa E Dichter; Shasha Gao; Adam J Gordon; Jillian C Shipherd; Michael R Kauth; George R Brown; Michael J Fine Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Kathleen A McManus; Elizabeth Schurman; Zixiao An; Reed Van Hook; Jessica Keim-Malpass; Tabor E Flickinger Journal: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses Date: 2021-10-18 Impact factor: 1.723
Authors: Jason A Mendoza; Carrie A Miller; Kelly J Martin; Ken Resnicow; Ronaldo Iachan; Babalola Faseru; Corinne McDaniels-Davidson; Yangyang Deng; Maria Elena Martinez; Wendy Demark-Wahnefried; Amy E Leader; DeAnn Lazovich; Jakob D Jensen; Katherine J Briant; Bernard F Fuemmeler Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2022-05-04 Impact factor: 4.090
Authors: Benjamin Yu; Ann Elizabeth Montgomery; Gala True; Meagan Cusack; Anneliese Sorrentino; Manik Chhabra; Melissa E Dichter Journal: Am J Orthopsychiatry Date: 2018-12-31
Authors: Alison E Cuellar; Leah M Adams; Lilian de Jonge; Virginia Espina; Laurette Espinoza; Sarah F Fischer; Cara L Frankenfeld; Denise A Hines; Olga Kornienko; Heidi Y Lawrence; Ziaul H Rana; Niloofar Ramezani; Matthew E Rossheim; Jerome L Short; Eric N Waithaka; Alyssa N Wilson; Lawrence J Cheskin Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-05-12 Impact factor: 3.295