# Medical-legal partnerships to prevent evictions and homelessness among veterans

> **NIH VA I01** · VA CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2023 · —

## Abstract

Background: Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) represent an innovative intervention that integrates legal
providers into healthcare teams to address complex problems and support the rehabilitation of vulnerable
patient populations. In the MLP intervention, community legal providers partner with VA facilities to provide
legal assistance to homeless and at-risk veterans. MLP staff can help veterans by negotiating with landlords,
setting up alternative payment plans, and representing them in eviction court which may ultimately improve
Veterans’ social integration and quality of life. Our group completed a 2-year uncontrolled study of VA MLPs
and found that veterans showed significant improvements in housing, income, and mental health after
receiving MLP services. A more rigorous research design is proposed as a next step in evaluating VA MLPs
and their effect on the rehabilitation of veterans.
Objectives: This project has two major aims: 1) evaluate the impact of MLP on housing outcomes (primary)
and mental health outcomes (secondary); and 2) examine the veteran experience with seeking and receiving
assistance from MLP and outside legal providers.
Methods: For Aim 1, a randomized controlled trial of the MLP intervention for Veterans with housing-related
issues (i.e., rent-based evictions, rule violations, landlord-tenant disputes) will be conducted. The study site will
be the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, where the MLP intervention will be provided in partnership with the
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. A total of 300 homeless and at-risk veterans will be randomly assigned to
either the MLP intervention or referral to an outside legal provider. Veterans in both groups will be assessed at
baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months on housing, mental health, and various psychosocial measures. The primary
outcome will be housing status and a secondary outcome will be mental health. Exploratory analyses will be
conducted on outcomes such as financial status, legal status, social integration and citizenship, and quality of
life. For Aim 2, a total of 30 veterans participating in the randomized controlled trial (15 participants each from
the treatment and control groups) will be interviewed to collect qualitative data on their experiences receiving
the MLP intervention or outside legal services.
Significance: The VA is committed to preventing and ending veteran homelessness. While considerable
efforts have been made to house veterans, services are needed to help them sustain housing and community
integration. Numerous reports and surveys indicate that legal assistance for civil legal problems is a major
unmet need among homeless and at-risk veterans. VA MLPs offer an opportunity to help veterans address
housing-related issues, which could prevent homelessness and assist their rehabilitation. The MLP intervention
is consistent with the VA’s comprehensive continuum of rehabilitative services for veterans and the movement
towards multidisciplinary, integrated care ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10709560
- **Project number:** 5I01RX003200-03
- **Recipient organization:** VA CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Marc I Rosen
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-11-01 → 2025-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10709560

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10709560, Medical-legal partnerships to prevent evictions and homelessness among veterans (5I01RX003200-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10709560. Licensed CC0.

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