Leadership Development Institute: An Evidence-Based Community Health Intervention to Improve the Quality of Life for Individuals and Families with Histories of Homelessness

Objective: Improving the health and well-being of individuals and families with histories of homelessness now living in low-income communities. Methods: After analysis of data on neighborhood conditions and interviews with 187 participants, a community-based intervention was built to address those individual-level and neighborhood-level factors that impacted physical health, mental health, quality of life, and sense of community for individuals and families with histories of homelessness living in historically low-income communities.

Results/Intervention Model: The intervention is designed to enhance physical and mental health through the development of increased social capital, an increased sense of empowerment and participation in the local community, and greater involvement in improving neighborhood conditions. The intervention combines information and skills-based training, engagement in community-based participatory action research, and guidance and support in organizing the community around an agenda for community change. Process and outcome evaluation are being conducted throughout the initial pilot to assess the impact of this intervention.

Conclusions/Anticipated Outcomes: Data analysis confirms that both contextual and individual psychological factors predict health and quality of life outcomes among formerly homeless individuals. These findings further point to the role for an advocacy intervention for formerly homeless individuals to improve health and well-being while also addressing neighborhood conditions. . Anticipated outcomes include enhanced physical and mental health, enhanced social capital, and increased self and community efficacy. Anticipated longer-term outcomes include improvements in neighborhood and housing conditions and improved housing stability.