Our Purpose
The Periodic Assessment of Trajectories of Housing, Homelessness, and Health Study (PATHS) provides an innovative and adaptable platform for real-time monitoring of the health, housing, and service needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles County. Through continuous, in-depth data collection via mobile phone surveys, PATHS offers valuable insights into the dynamic challenges faced by this population. By addressing critical gaps in longitudinal research, PATHS has the potential to drive more informed policy decisions and interventions that improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Our Methodology
Recruit a cohort of unsheltered individuals from Los Angeles County's Homeless Count Demographic Survey, an annual representative survey of the region’s unsheltered population covering over 500 census tracts.
Use a web-based survey platform and electronic gift card incentives for participation, including screening, baseline, monthly, and biannual follow-up surveys.
Collect data on health, housing, and social outcomes through trauma-informed, equity-sensitive surveys designed for diverse literacy levels, with a user-friendly interface and buffers for sensitive topics.
Regularly update surveys to address emerging issues like rehousing, policing, and healthcare changes affecting LA’s unsheltered population.
Our Team
Ben Henwood
Benjamin Henwood, PhD, LCSW is the Albert G. and Frances Lomas Feldman Professor of Social Policy and Health at the University of Southern California (USC). He directs the Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and also holds a secondary appointment as a professor in the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Professor Henwood’s research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (i.e., NIMH, NIDA, NIA), the National Science Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Patient Centered Research Outcomes Institute and Google.org
Co-Principal Investigators
Randall Kuhn
Dr. Randall Kuhn (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1999) is a demographer and sociologist focused on the social determinants of health among vulnerable populations. He is an expert in survey design, longitudinal analysis and counterfactual research design. Dr. Kuhn is a fellow of the California Center for Population Research, where he serves as Chair of the Executive Committee. He also serves on the advisory boards of the UCLA Center for the Study of International Migration and the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Kuhn previously chaired the Population Sciences Subcommittee of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Co-Principal Investigators
Jessie Chien
Jessie Chien, MHS, PhD, is the research manager for PATHS. Her research expertise focuses on examining the spatial context of health inequities for racialized and marginalized populations and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, including geospatial techniques and longitudinal data analysis. She received her Master of Health Science at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and PhD from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Research Manager
Gisele Corletto
Gisele Corletto, MSW is a Project Administrator and has extensive experience working with diverse populations throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, applying leadership, management, and clinical skills. She has successfully led multiple community initiatives and research projects focused on developing the best practices for underserved populations, including people experiencing homelessness and the military and veteran population in Los Angeles County.