title: Screening for Homelessness in the Veterans Health Administration: Monitoring Housing Stability through Repeat Screening.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined veterans' responses to the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA's) universal screen for homelessness and risk of homelessness during the first 12 months of implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated the baseline annual frequency of homelessness and risk of homelessness among all veterans who completed an initial screen during the study period. We measured changes in housing status among veterans who initially screened positive and then completed a follow-up screen, assessed factors associated with such changes, and identified distinct risk profiles of veterans who completed a follow-up screen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 4 million veterans completed an initial screen; 1.8% (n=77,621) screened positive for homelessness or risk of homelessness. Of those who initially screened positive for either homelessness or risk of homelessness and who completed a second screen during the study period, 85.0% (n=15,060) resolved their housing instability prior to their second screen. Age, sex, race, VHA eligibility, and screening location were all associated with changes in housing stability. We identified four distinct risk profiles for veterans with ongoing housing instability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To address homelessness among veterans, efforts should include increased and targeted engagement of veterans experiencing persistent housing instability.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA ; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA ; Utah State University, Department of Psychology, Logan, UT.
authors.forename: Jamison D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fargo
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Ann Elizabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA ; University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Culhane
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans