# Measuring the impact of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) on Veteran outcomes

> **NIH VA I01** · VA SALT LAKE CITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Background
Through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, Veterans and their families who are
experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless can receive of financial support and other
services from private non-profit organizations with the goal of stabilizing their housing. The impact on Veteran
housing, healthcare cost, and health outcomes as well as Veteran satisfaction with this program is not known.
Specific aims
Aim 1: Describe geographic variation in the amount of SSVF services provided and identify predictors of this
variation for SSVF recipients for FY2012-FY2017 using data from the HMIS.
Aim 2: Perform an outcome and economic assessment of the SSVF program.
2a: Measure the impact of the rapid re-housing component of SSVF on housing, health, and healthcare cost
outcomes through retrospective cohort analyses for FY2012-FY2017.
2b: Conduct grantee-specific and overall economic evaluations of the SSVF program compared to usual care
using input parameters from the published literature and from Aims 1 and 2a.
Aim 3: Identify barriers and facilitators to SSVF use and Veterans' satisfaction with the program using semi-
structured interviews with VA operations partners, SSVF grantee employees, VA homeless services providers,
and Veterans using SSVF services.
Significance of the proposed research and relevance to Veterans' health
The loss of stable housing has a devastating effect on Veterans' health and well-being. In addition,
homelessness can be costly both to the healthcare system and society as a whole. Solving the problem of
Veteran homelessness is one of the most important initiatives the VA is currently pursuing.
Unique features and innovation of the project
Our study – comprising over 400 sites within the US – will be by far the largest study of a homeless
intervention ever conducted in the US. In addition, we will use both structured and unstructured data and
detailed, Veteran-level data on services and financial assistance received by Veterans enrolled in this program.
Methodology to be used
In Aim 1 we will construct multi-level regression models to identify both individual- and community-level
predictors of SSVF services and expenditures. In Aim 2a, we will fit outcome models relating SSVF program
initiation to the subsequent mortality, exit from homelessness, and cost outcomes in weighted populations
defined by propensity scores. In Aim 2b, we will construct simulation models using input parameters from a
variety of sources. And in Aim 3, we will conduct interviews with national VA stakeholders, SSVF grantee
employees, VA homeless service providers, and Veterans who have enrolled in the SSVF program.
Expected results
In Aim 1, we expect to find considerable variation in services and expenditures across the country, which will
be explained by observable Veteran- and community-level characteristics. We anticipate that our Aim 2a
analyses will find that enrollment in SSVF will lead to increased rates of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9913993
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002425-02
- **Recipient organization:** VA SALT LAKE CITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard E. Nelson
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9913993

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9913993, Measuring the impact of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) on Veteran outcomes (5I01HX002425-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9913993. Licensed CC0.

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