EXAMINING THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE SECOND VERSION OF THE VULNERABILITY INDEX-SERVICE PRIORITIZATION DECISION TOOL (VI-SPDAT) FOR SINGLE ADULTS

Many communities use the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Tool (VI-SPDAT) to determine which individuals and/or households experiencing homelessness are most vulnerable and therefore prioritized for the limited housing resources available. Because of the tool’s widespread use and implications for housing, the present study examined the reliability and validity of the second version of the VI-SPDAT for Single Adults with a sample of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in Charlotte, NC. Results suggest that the VI-SPDAT is strongest in measuring areas associated with psychological symptomatology and/or mental health, but that the scale had significant limitations in its internal consistency, ability to adequately measure the construct of vulnerability, and convergent, concurrent, and predictive validity. Furthermore, findings raise concerns related to the VI-SPDAT’s ability to adequately reflect the complex and dynamic behavioral, social, and medical needs of those experiencing chronic homelessness. Taken together, the findings from this study point to issues with the VI-SPDAT’s reliability and validity and provide actionable information to help inform areas that should be strengthened and/or modified to better capture the needs and vulnerability of individuals experiencing homelessness. It is hoped the findings from this study can inform local efforts for assessing the needs and functioning of individuals experiencing homelessness and, more importantly, provide information that can be used to ensure equitable allocation of services in the homeless service system.