On the brink?

The research team originally conducted a literature review summarizing research, particularly published studies from the past decade or so, that focus on the risk factors, predictors and pathways in and out of homelessness (Tutty et al., 2009). Unpublished research reports from reputable organization, especially Canadian ones, were also included. Our primary focus was on factors that differentiate those that have become absolutely homeless from those that are on the cusp of homelessness, either being relatively homeless, or living in hidden homelessness. As such, the analysis focused particularly on studies that differentiated between these groups. We also searched for articles on resilience and protective factors, again finding relatively few. These assets and protective factors formed the core of a screening tool, The Homelessness Assets and Risk Screening Tool (HART) that could be used to identify vulnerability to homelessness in at-risk populations, but those not yet experiencing homelessness, in the hope of providing early interventions. The purpose of the current research is to test the validity of the HART, including its predictive validity with respect to identifying those at risk of homelessness.