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Conducting intervention studies with homeless populations can be difficult, particularly in terms of retaining participants across multiple sessions and locating them for subsequent follow-up assessments. Homeless youth are even more challenging to engage due to substance use, mental health problems, wariness of authority figures, and frequent relocations. This article describes methods used to successfully recruit a sample of 200 homeless youth from two drop-in centers in Los Angeles, engage them in a four-session substance use and sexual risk reduction program (79% of youth attended multiple sessions), and retain 91% of the full sample at a three-month follow-up assessment. Our experience indicates that utilizing structured project materials and having a small dedicated staff are essential to recruitment and retention efforts for intervention studies with homeless youth. Using these and other nontraditional methods are likely necessary to engage this at-risk yet hard-to-reach population.

Objective: Despite rates of alcohol misuse being higher among emerging adults experiencing homelessness compared to those who are stably housed, there are few brief evidence-based risk reduction programs for this population that focus on alcohol use and assess outcomes for more than 1 year. This study examines alcohol outcomes from a 24-month evaluation of AWARE, a brief motivational interviewing-based group risk reduction intervention for emerging adults experiencing homelessness. Method: In a cluster randomized crossover trial, 18- to 25- year-olds received AWARE (n = 132) or standard care (n = 144) at one of three drop-in centers serving young people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. We evaluated intervention effects on past month alcohol use, consequences, and related cognitions such as motivation to change behavior. Results: AWARE participants showed significant reductions over 24 months in alcohol use and negative consequences from drinking and reported significant increases in their use of drinking protective strategies. Except for drinking frequency, control group participants did not show a significant change in these outcomes. Conclusions: Findings build on earlier work by demonstrating that AWARE is effective in reducing alcohol use and related problems among emerging adults experiencing homelessness over a 2-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since fall 2021, the authors of this study have conducted regular enumerations of the unsheltered populations in three Los Angeles neighborhoods known for having high concentrations of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness: Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice. In addition to counts, the authors have conducted surveys of unsheltered residents in these same neighborhoods to better understand the characteristics, experiences, and needs of these populations. The results of the first year of this study, known as the Los Angeles Longitudinal Enumeration and Demographic Survey (LA LEADS), were presented in a report published by RAND in 2023. The authors continued their enumeration and survey efforts in these three neighborhoods throughout 2023 using an updated survey instrument that includes new questions about employment, income, experiences with service providers, health conditions, and substance use. This study presents their findings from the 2023 data collection period and includes comparisons with the previous year's effort and new information about unsheltered populations' experiences and needs across the same three Los Angeles neighborhoods., (Copyright © 2024 RAND Corporation.)