Exploring the influences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the experiences of individuals who are homeless or unstably housed: a scoping review

PURPOSE: To identify the challenges and needs experienced by the homeless or unstably housed population related to traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with the recommendations for addressing them. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted through a systematic search of five electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed articles that met eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers conducted a two-step process, assessing titles/abstracts and full articles respectively, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Of the 25 articles included in the review, 21 used quantitative approaches, two used mixed methods, and two employed qualitative methodology. TBI influences various aspects of life in the homeless population, including health, social lives, and service utilization. To address these challenges, routine TBI screenings in homeless care facilities and improved access to neuro-specific rehabilitation are recommended. These measures, along with considering homelessness risk factors in TBI treatment, could enhance social functioning and prevent future homelessness. CONCLUSION: Findings from this scoping review showed that TBI negatively impacts different aspects of the lives of homeless or unstably housed individuals and imposes an additional burden on them to acquire or maintain stable housing. Future qualitative studies are required to better understand the real-world challenges they face and to develop more practical solutions.