Expert Perspectives on Service User Transitions Within and From Homeless Service Programs

Abstract

This study describes expert perspectives on service user transitions within and from homeless service programs. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with subject matter experts (SMEs) who had practice or research experience regarding transitional supports in homeless services. Interviews were analyzed using rapid assessment procedures that allowed for the categorization and characterization of targeted interview domains. Findings indicate that assessment is a critical, but underspecified, aspect of transitional programs in homeless services. SMEs viewed assessments for transition readiness as goal-setting opportunities and said that frequency of assessment is best individualized to the person. Transitional supports, including housing navigation and peer support, were viewed as important elements of successful programs. SMEs further noted that opportunities for eventual transition from the program should be communicated to service users early on and that having an organizational culture that embraces service user transitions was critical, highlighting the importance of shifting culture around transitions in homeless services.

Keywords:

• homelessness
• supportive housing
• case management
• transition
• implementation

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Notes on contributors

Emmy Tiderington

Emmy Tiderington is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and Associate Faculty at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Prior to this appointment, she worked as a clinical supervisor, social worker, and direct care provider in housing and case management programs for individuals with serious mental illness and other complex needs. Her research has been funded by a variety of Federal, State, local, and private funders, including the National Institute of Mental Health, State of New Jersey, Oak Foundation, and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Robin Petering

Robin Petering is a community-based researcher at Lens Co, a research and implementation consulting enterprise. Dr. Petering currently oversees several evaluation contracts with agencies across the country that serve young people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Petering’s approach to research and evaluation is to prioritize inclusiveness and equity for all individuals and agencies involved in any given project and is informed by her personal experience as front-line worker and volunteer in agencies that serve this population.

Minda Huang

Minda Huang is a clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Hartford and currently a pre-doctoral intern at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, MD.

Taylor Harris

Taylor Harris is a post-doctoral fellow with the National Center on Homelessness among Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs in West Los Angeles. Her research focuses on adults experiencing homelessness and supportive housing residents' behavioral health and mental health outcomes, and services and environmental factors that affect these issues.

Jack Tsai

Jack Tsai serves as Campus Dean and Professor of Public Health at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and is also Research Director for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. He has published 200 peer-reviewed articles and received federal and foundation grants for his work on homelessness, severe mental illness, and social determinants of health.