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A Pilot Study Using Mixed GPS/Narrative Interview Methods to Understand Geospatial Behavior in Homeless Populations

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Abstract

Tracking the movements of homeless populations presents methodological difficulties, but understanding their movements in space and time is needed to inform optimal placement of services. This pilot study developed, tested, and refined methods to apply global positioning systems (GPS) technology paired with individual narratives to chronicle the movements of homeless populations. Detail of methods development and difficulties encountered and addressed, and geospatial findings are provided. A pilot sample of 29 adults was recruited from a low-demand homeless shelter in the downtown area of Fort Worth, Texas. Pre- and post-deployment interviews provided participant characteristics and planned and retrospectively-reported travels. Only one of the first eight deployments returned with sufficient usable data. Ultimately 19 participants returned the GPS device with >20 h of usable data. Protocol adjustments addressing methodological difficulties achieved 81 % of subsequent participants returning with sufficient usable data. This study established methods and demonstrated feasibility for tracking homeless population travels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metrocare Services, Dallas Texas, 1380 River Bend Drive, Dallas, TX, 75247-4914, USA

    Carol S. North

  2. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6363 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX, 75390-8828, USA

    Carol S. North, Melissa Black & Dana L. Downs

  3. The University of Arkansas, 134 Graduate Education Building, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Sarah E. Wohlford

  4. Department of Geography and Geospatial Information Sciences, School of Economic, Political and Policy Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA

    Denis J. Dean

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, PO Box 245017, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Margaret E. Balfour

  6. Department of Social Work, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298750, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA

    James C. Petrovich

  7. Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama Birmingham, Heritage Hall Building 322, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1152, USA

    David E. Pollio

Authors
  1. Carol S. North
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  2. Sarah E. Wohlford
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  3. Denis J. Dean
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  4. Melissa Black
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  5. Margaret E. Balfour
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  6. James C. Petrovich
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  7. Dana L. Downs
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  8. David E. Pollio
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Correspondence to Carol S. North.

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North, C.S., Wohlford, S.E., Dean, D.J. et al. A Pilot Study Using Mixed GPS/Narrative Interview Methods to Understand Geospatial Behavior in Homeless Populations. Community Ment Health J 53, 661–671 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0057-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0057-8

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