Housing help for homeless veterans may cut alcohol-related harms
Official title: Assessing the Impact of a Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Initiative for Housing Unstable Veterans on Alcohol-related Harms: Analysis of Linked Housing Program and Health Care Data
Funded at Western Institute for Veterans Research · NIH-11280211 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will look at whether housing support for homeless or at-risk Veterans reduces problems from alcohol use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Institute for Veterans Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,597,867 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032899-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11280211 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans who are currently homeless or at high risk of homelessness and who have or are at risk for alcohol use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans without housing instability or alcohol-related health issues may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project will link housing support data with health records for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to understand how stable housing affects alcohol use and related health harms. Researchers will examine how a homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing program influences alcohol withdrawal, injuries, and chronic diseases over time. By analyzing real-world data from Veterans Affairs and community partners, the study aims to reveal whether providing stable housing can improve health outcomes for alcohol-related conditions. The work builds on prior findings that housing support improves housing stability and healthcare costs, and it will explore the mechanisms behind these effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could show that securing stable housing lowers alcohol-related harm and healthcare costs for Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts suggest housing interventions can improve housing stability and some health outcomes, but the impact on alcohol-related harms needs clarification.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Institute for Veterans Research
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Richard E. — Western Institute for Veterans Research
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Richard E.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.