Improving Productive Community Integration in Homeless-experienced Veterans

The VA has been focused on reducing the number of homeless Veterans nationally. However, it has been very difficult to increase the level of productive activities--including work, school, and training--for homeless-experienced Veterans (HEVs), even when the VA provides substantial case management and support services in addition to housing. The overarching aim of this proposed treatment project is to validate an innovative psychosocial intervention (a combination of Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; MI-CBT) that is designed to enhance motivation and increase productive community integration in Veterans who have experienced homelessness. The efficacy of this new intervention will be evaluated in a randomized control trial that includes 24 weeks of active treatment, and a follow up assessment, compared with a control condition. The results of the proposed study will have clinical and functional impact for Veterans by helping HEVs to achieve fuller community integration.

Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran * fluent in English * history of homelessness and currently housed through VA Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) housing programs * expressed willingness to work on a school, work, or training goals Exclusion Criteria: * no clinically significant medical, neurological, or physical condition that would interfere with providing informed consent or valid assessments * no visible sign of intoxication on the laboratory assessment visits