A Comprehensive Assessment to Enable Recovery of the Homeless: The HOP-TR Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Homelessness is a growing concern in Western Europe, necessitating better data for Dutch municipal authorities.
• Policy changes and austerity measures increased the need for local homeless population data.
• The Homeless People Treatment and Recovery (HOP-TR) study was initiated to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a comprehensive health and needs assessment strategy for homeless individuals.
• To evaluate health and needs across multiple domains from a recovery-oriented perspective.
• To inform care provision and network cooperation for homeless service users.

Main Methods:

• A naturalistic meta-snowball sampling method was used to recruit Dutch Homeless Service (HS) users.
• Semi-structured interviews, informed by the InterRAI Community Mental Health questionnaire and Homelessness Supplement, were the primary data source.
• Algorithmic summary scores and clinical parameters were computed, integrating a transdiagnostic mental health approach and a positive health framework.

Main Results:

• A saturated sample of 436 HS users across 16 facilities in seven cities was recruited between 2015 and 2017.
• Participants were predominantly long-term or intermittently homeless, highlighting multifaceted needs.
• Local authorities utilized the study's reports to enhance care quality, access, and network collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The HOP-TR study introduced novel recruitment and data collection strategies for comprehensive homelessness research.
• It employed an analytical epidemiological approach, shifting focus from marginalization to a recovery-oriented vision of health.
• The findings facilitate a deeper understanding of homeless individuals' interactions with care networks.