Impact of Demographic Factors and Other Characteristics on Housing Outcomes at Discharge from Transitional Care Program

Homelessness is a major public health concern, and successful rehousing is an important outcome for people experiencing homelessness (PEH). However, limited evidence exists on which individual factors are associated with rehousing after transitional care; this study examined characteristics associated with being rehoused at discharge from Durham Homeless Care Transitions (DHCT). We analyzed data from DHCT, a transitional care program serving PEH. Independent variables included demographic characteristics, self-efficacy, mental healthcare status, and unmet identity and communication access (ICA) needs, including lack of personal identification documentation and technology access. We performed bivariate analyses and multivariable regression to assess associations with being rehoused at discharge. In both bivariate and multivariable analyses, non-White PEH were less likely to be rehoused at discharge than White PEH. Greater unmet ICA needs were also significantly associated with lower likelihood of rehousing. These findings add to the mixed prior literature regarding racial inequities in rehousing among PEH. The concept of ICA needs has not previously been studied and may offer an actionable target for transitional care programs seeking to improve rehousing outcomes and advance equity.