Homeless Care Management App

There is a significant revolving door of incarceration among homeless adults, a population
with substantial health disparities. Homeless adults who receive the professional
coordination of individualized care (i.e., case management) during the period following their
release from jail experience fewer mental health and substance use problems, are more likely
to obtain stable housing, and are less likely to be re-incarcerated. The proposed study will
use mobile technology to address these barriers and fill gaps in the understanding of the
causes of the revolving door of homeless incarceration. This research represents a step
toward integrated service connection and healthcare service provision for one of the most
underserved, high need, and understudied populations in the United States. Smart phone apps
that increase the use of available healthcare services and identify predictors of key
outcomes (e.g., homelessness, re-arrest, medication compliance) could be used to reach hard
to reach populations with histories of significant and persistent health disparities (e.g.,
homeless adults).