Briefs
Overview
Briefs are short summaries of a research study that are typically written to share important findings of the study, and implications of working with homeless Veteran populations, with VA Staff and providers to quickly read and understand. If you would like to be notified by e-mail of new briefs, please use the subscribe button to be added to our e-mail list.
All Briefs*
*Note: Briefs from 2025 and later are currently only available to VA staff, but everybody can view the archived briefs.
Title: Unsheltered Homelessness among Participants of Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 7/1/2025
Description:
Authors: Chapman, A. & Nelson, R.
Title: An Evaluation of Lung Cancer Screening Offers and Chest Scan Completion among Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 6/1/2025
Description:
Authors: Roncarati, J., Byrne, T., Elwy, R., Kertesz, S., McInnes, K., Wiener, R., & Xu, C.
Title: Improving the Physical Safety of VA Staff Serving Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 6/1/2025
Description:
Authors: Harris, T., Chinchilla, M., Young, A., Gelberg, L., Gabrielian, S., & Tsai, J.
Title: Supporting Community Partnerships to Optimize HUD-VASH Services for Veterans Who Are Older and/or Physically Disabled
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 6/1/2025
Description:
Authors: Boucher, N., Palmer, J., & Sista, A.
Title: Implementation of a Whole Health Approach in Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) Programs: A Pilot Study
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 8/15/2024
Description: This pilot indicated the Whole Health (WH) approach was acceptable and feasible. Implementation of core components take time and concerted effort at multiple levels. Despite the overall rate of irregular discharges not changing significantly, there was some indication of a greater decline during the latter months of the study period. Veterans valued focusing on how to identify what matters and how to work towards goals and staff valued the added opportunities for personalized strengths-based interactions. The inclusion of CIH therapies into programming may be particularly helpful in supporting program completion, particularly when offered within a WH environment. Findings also highlight that programmatic requirements can interfere with providing person-centered care in these programs. This grant was a pilot study and limited in scope; however, our results highlight the feasibility and acceptability of a WH approach to caring for Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness in a DCHV setting. More work is needed to understand the national requirements and to understand how to best balance lengthy, rigid assessments with opportunities for personalized goal attainment.
Authors: Hyde, J. & Flike, K.
Title: Examining Disparities in Primary Care Experiences and Outpatient Health Service Utilization among Black and Latino Homeless-Experienced Veterans: An Analysis of Patient-Centered Medical Homes
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 8/1/2024
Description: This study used national survey data collected through the “Primary Care Quality and Homeless Service Tailoring (PCQ-HoST)” study. As described elsewhere,18,23 PCQ-HoST was a national assessment of HEVs’ experience in HPACT versus mainstream-PACT in 26 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) across 20 states. Sites encompassed the largest HPACTs in operation in 2018. PCQ-HoST survey data were linked to the VA’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) to identify participants’ health service utilization. Our sample (n=4,894) included three distinct racial/ethnic groups: Latino (regardless of race) (n=595), non-Latino Black (2,181), and non-Latino White (2,118). Data captured demographics, social and health vulnerabilities, ratings of primary care, and health service utilization. We used general linear models to test associations between variables, including race/ethnicity, clinic type (HPACT versus mainstream PACT), and their interaction, on two outcomes (i.e., patient experience ratings and service utilization of outpatient primary, mental health, and substance use care). We also tested whether care ratings were associated with health service utilization.
Authors: Chinchilla, M.; Jones, A.L.; Gabrielian, S.E.; Green, M.F.; Gelberg, L.; Young, A.S.; Kertesz, S.G.
Title: Barriers and Facilitators to Delivery and Utilization of Health Services among Unstably Housed Rural Veterans Who Migrate for Care
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 7/1/2024
Description: Veterans experiencing housing instability who migrate to and from rural areas to utilize VA care face heightened barriers to accessing health services and streamlined, coordinated care. Increasing specialty services, transportation, telehealth, and home-based care may reduce the burden of barriers to health services utilization and delivery for this population. Advocacy and support from personal relationships and providers appear to be critical facilitators during periods of migration. Streamlining transfer-of-care practices and provider communication can also support smooth transitions and continuity of care during migration periods. Expanding services in rural areas and identifying strategies to improve access to care among unstably housed Veterans living in these geographic regions is warranted.
Authors: Harris, T. & Montgomery, A.E.
Title: Rapid Qualitative Assessment to Prepare for HPACT Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) Implementation: Insights from West Haven, Connecticut HPACT
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 6/1/2024
Description: The VA is currently implementing an expansion of mobile care across the country, specifically via Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) clinics caring for housing insecure and unhoused Veterans. These Veterans may face challenges accessing traditional brick-and-mortar care, and mobile care is viewed as a potential way to better reach and engage these patients. Mobile care strategies have shown to engage hard-to-reach populations, such as minoritized groups or groups experiencing adverse social conditions, and may also positively impact health care utilization. In May of 2022, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs Office announced plans for HPACTs to receive Mobile Medical Units (MMUs). After being selected as an initial recipient of a mobile unit, the West Haven VA HPACT team sought to prepare by conducting a rapid qualitative assessment of key barriers and opportunities of mobile care implementation.
Authors: Roy, V.; Christian, N.; Buonora, M; Falker, C.
Title: Integrating Spiritual Supports – An Evaluation
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 5/1/2024
Description: The “INSPIRE” project is VHA’s first exploration of whether and how to implement spiritual support in the HUD-VASH program. The INSPIRE team led three efforts across Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 1’s HUD-VASH system: 1) surveying 283 randomly sampled Veterans from the HUD-VASH program; 2) facilitating focus groups with 24 VHA chaplains and HUD-VASH staff; and 3) consulting a 12-person collaborative team of VHA chaplains and HUD-VASH staff and Veterans.
Authors: Palmer, J.; Harvey, K.; Hyde, J.; Kertesz, S.; Roncarati, J.; Sista, A.
Title: Disparities in Telehealth Utilization among VISN1 Diabetic Veterans Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 11/1/2023
Description: This project examined how telehealth can be leveraged to mitigate diabetes care disruptions among Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 1 Veterans experiencing homelessness during and subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, this mix-methods study examined electronic health record (EHR) data from diabetic, VISN 1 Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness (identified through VA EHR stop codes). This study also supplemented its quantitative findings with findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers and Veterans. Interviews examined the facilitators and barriers to telehealth utilization among diabetic Veterans experiencing homelessness. These findings will inform future tailored intervention(s) that seek to close identified disparities in telehealth utilization among homeless Veteran populations in effort to increase their access to and continuity of care.
Authors: Kinney, R.; Tsai, J.; Weber, J.; Katsos, S.; McInnes, K.; Walker, L.; Wallace, K.
Title: Piloting a Peer Specialist-Led Intervention to Increase Use of VA Video Connect among Veterans Participating in a VA Homeless Programs Office Program
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 10/1/2023
Description: This study leveraged the design and use feedback from both the VA peer specialist who conducted the digital training sessions and the Veteran participants to test the prototype. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Motivational Interviewing approach, the training intervention taught Veterans necessary digital skills, positive attitude and self-efficacy in their use of video telehealth.
Authors: Garvin, L.; Greenan, M.; Edelman, J.; McInnes, K.; Zulman, D.
Title: Identifying Best Practices to Integrate Medical Services with Low-Barrier Housing Services: A Case Study at a VA Greater Los Angeles Encampment of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Link: Get the full Brief here
Date: 8/1/2023
Description: We identified best practices for encampment medicine services at a unique VA-sanctioned encampment-turned-tiny structure community on a large urban VA campus. Our data highlighted the importance of encampment-based care grounded in building rapport and engagement using humility, flexibility, and respect for VEH’s self-determination. Engaging Veterans to lead discussions about what matters to them is valuable in encampment settings, as is establishing rapport with community leaders.
Authors: McCoy, M.; Kalofonos, I.; Cannedy, S.; Sherrell, T.; Altman, L.; Hamilton, A.; Gabrielian, S.