Psychometric validation of the Homelessness Star

ABSTRACT

This article examines the psychometric properties of the Homelessness Star, a widely used keywork and outcome measurement tool developed for homelessness services but often used in the context of more generic complex needs. The Homelessness Star was the first version of the Outcomes Star, a suite of more than 30 tools tailored to specific service users and contexts. In this study, routinely collected Homelessness Star data was provided by UK women’s centers offering holistic support to women involved with, or at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system. The analyses included assessing factor structure, internal consistency, item-redundancy, (N = 1703), responsiveness (n = 1307) and predictive validity (n = 175) of the Homelessness Star. A unidimensional factor structure was found with good internal consistency, no item redundancy, and an average effect size of r = .38 across outcome areas (range .28 to .44). Higher initial Homelessness Star readings were associated with later accommodation and employment status as well as a greater likelihood of attending education and training. Greater change in the Managing tenancy and accommodation outcome area was also associated with being more likely to transition from being homeless to having housing. These findings support the validity and reliability of the Homelessness Star as an outcomes measurement tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• Outcomes Star
• psychometric
• validity
• women

Disclosure statement

Triangle Consulting is the creator of the Outcomes Star.

Notes

1 The Outcomes Star for Homelessness is referred to as “the Outcomes Star” in publication materials but is called the Homelessness Star here to distinguish it from the many versions of the Outcomes Star that followed its publication.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anna Good

Dr. Anna Good has been a Research Analyst at Triangle for the last five years. She previously worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in the area of health behaviour change at University College London and the University of Sussex, including as Principal Investigator on a three-year ESRC grant.

Joy MacKeith

Joy MacKeith has been working in the field of outcomes measurement for over 20 years. She has worked in front-line roles in homelessness and at the London School of Economics where she specialised in NGO management. She co-created the Outcomes Star, and is now Strategic Director at Triangle, the social enterprise that helps service providers achieve positive outcomes through creating tools and promoting enabling approaches.