Co-Occurring Disorders - Homelessness
Our research on co-occurring disorders and homelessness focuses specifically on understanding more about the prevalence of homelessness and treatment of mental illness and addiction among Veterans. Specifically, we examine what services homeless Veterans utilize, what programs are most effective, how to best identify Veterans who are at-risk of homelessness, the development of interventions to improve housing stability and how to better engage homeless Veterans with complex and multifaceted clinical needs. Furthermore, our research projects are directly aligned with Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and our work is designed to assist the VA in accomplishing its goal of ending Veteran homelessness by 2015. Specifically, our projects seek to produce a more accurate and reliable estimate of Veteran homelessness, investigate the demographic make-up of this population and determine where homeless Veterans are likely reside in an attempt to provide more aligned services to this population. We also seek to identify the factors that predict homelessness among Veterans, develop and implement evidence-based interventions, formulate policy recommendations and disseminate findings. Another goal of our group is to better understand the interchange between mental health comorbidities, homelessness and addiction among homeless Veterans.
Projects:
- MISSION-Vet/GTO HUD-VASH Hybrid Implementation/Effectiveness Trial
- HUD-VASH Case Management Substance Use Disorder Treatment Augmentation Randomized Control Trial Ending Chronic Homelessness through Permanent Housing, Integrated Treatment, Case Management, and Peer Support in Western and Central Massachusetts: The MASS-MISSION program
- Qualitative exploration of self-stigma in treatment engagement of homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders
- Anti-Stigma Public Service Announcement
- Evidence Based Participatory Pilot Study for the Implementation of Dual Diagnosis Treatment in a Residential Drug Treatment Program for Latino Men
- CBT Treatment for PTSD and SUDs in Minority Youth