Homelessness Severity Scale

Instrument name: The Homelessness Severity Scale (HSS)

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Citation: Milby, J.B., Wallace, D., Ward, C.L., Schumacher, J.E., Michael, M. (2005). Towards a more sensitive assessment of homelessness: The Homelessness Severity Scale. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 14 (3&4), 151-169.

Purpose: To determine the severity of a homeless living situation in the past 60 days.

Population: Homeless adults who are mentally ill and/ or chemically addicted

Publication date(s): 2005

Domain: Housing history

Administration:  In-person structured interview using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing)

Reliability and validity information:  The HSS demonstrated criterion validity with a high correlation with dichotomous McKinney Act definition of homelessness (r=0.0898, p<0.01). The HSS also showed stronger correlations with days attendance at treatment early in early treatment (p=0.065); days fully employed (p<0.0001); and consecutive weeks of abstinence (p= 0.03) than a days homeless measure among cocaine addicted homeless persons in treatment.

Instrument description: The HSS is a continuous measure of the severity of homelessness, based on the dimensions of shelter quality (including no shelter) and time in different types of shelter. Using a timeline follow-back interview procedure, obtain the nature and length of overnight habitation over the past 60 days.

Description of study: Properties of the Homelessness Severity Scale were investigated relative to that of the Personal History Form (PHF), which is based on the McKinney Act definition and criteria for homelessness. The HSS is potentially more sensitive as it includes assessment of shelter quality. Participants (N=141) were drawn from a larger study of substance abuse interventions for the homeless. Other measures included drug abstinence, treatment attendance and employment, variables shown to be negatively related to homelessness. Data were gathered at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 months. Criterion validity was assessed by correlating the HSS to the Personal History Form (PHF). Responsiveness of the HSS to change in the three other measures, treatment attendance, abstinence and employment, was compared with that of the PHF. Results showed that the HSS correlates strongly with the PHF. The HSS was slightly more responsive than the PHF except at 6 months. However, repeated longer-term administration of the HSS may offer better prediction of ultimate housing stability.