Measuring homelessness and residential stability: The residential time-line follow-back inventory

Sam Tsemberis, Pathways to Housing
Gregory McHugo, New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
Valerie F. Williams, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Patricia Hanrahan, University of Chicago
Ana Stefancic, Columbia University

Abstract

Reliable and valid longitudinal residential histories are needed to assess interventions to reduce homelessness and increase community tenure. This study examined the test-retest reliability, sensitivity to change, and concurrent validity of the Residential Time-Line Follow-Back (TLFB) Inventory, a method used to record residential histories in the Collaborative Program to Prevent Homelessness (n = 1,381). The Residential TLFB Inventory yielded temporally stable aggregate measures of duration in residential categories, and it revealed significant differences in change over time when contrasting study groups. A comparison of agency and participant data at one site.