JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Extant research has long documented the association between domestic violence and homelessness. Yet there appear to be few interventions to address the housing needs of domestic violence survivors, and none on a digital platform.

Objective:

Our primary objective is to determine the feasibility of a full-scale intervention trial of a web-based tool that screens and educates domestic violence survivors on affordable housing programs in New York City. Our secondary objectives are to assess the perceived usability and acceptability of the tool.

Methods:

The study will take place in a community-based domestic violence center in New York City. Treatment will consist of study participants using (SC) or not using (SC+) the tool. SC will include private meetings with a case manager to discuss housing and other benefits; SC+ will include private meetings with a case manager, plus the use of the web-based tool during or outside of the meetings. The frequency of the meetings will vary depending on the participant’s need. The study will measure changes in housing knowledge, housing self-efficacy, and staff trust through two electronic surveys, administered at times 0 and 2-weeks. Following a historical cohort control group design, we will sequentially recruit participants, starting with SC and followed by SC+. After data collection for SC+ ends, we will invite staff from the partner site to individual, virtual interviews to share their experiences of and recommendations for implementing the tool.

Results:

Recruitment for the SC arm commenced in March 2022 and completed in April 2023. After a year, 23 participants completed the study: 75 screened, 42 were deemed eligible, 35 enrolled, and in the end, 23 completed baseline and follow-up surveys. Given the length of time it took to recruit for SC and the limited time overall that we had for the study, the study team decided to follow an expedited recruitment timeline for SC+. Recruitment for SC+ commenced in January 2024 and is anticipated to end by May 2024. Recruitment for the staff interviews will take place in June 2024. We expect to complete the study and be ready to compile the results by the end of June 2024.

Conclusions:

The protocol describes a feasibility study that can inform future research on housing and/or digital tools for a similar study population. Data from the study will also be used to inform revisions to the tool.