The Observer-rated Housing Quality Scale is used to assess the homes of individuals who have been diagnosed with mental health and addition issues. It evaluates 34 items across three domains – 18 of which assess the unit, seven assessing the building and nine providing an assessment of the neighbourhood. The housing quality features assessed include air quality, ventilation, temperature control, noise, lighting, presence of pests, accessibility and the physical structure of the home.
The evaluation of these components includes both direct observation along responses to standard questions. It uses half-point increments ranging from 0.5 to five to assess each item. Assessments take on average 45 minutes to complete.
Health status and risk factors Mental health conditions, Substance Use
Age group Adults
Assessor Individuals; trained assessors
Sections / items 3 sectionsl 34 items
Self-administered Yes
Multi-component Yes - self-report and an observer questionnaire
Indicators Indoor air quality; ventilation; temperature control; noise; lighting; pests; accessibility; physical structure
Authors Adair, C. E., Kopp, B., Distasio, J., Hwang, S. W., Lavoie, J., Veldhuizen, S., Voronka, J., Kaufman, A. F., Somers, J. M., LeBlanc, S. R., Cote, S., Addorisio, S., Matte, D., & Goering, P.
Organizations The University of Winnipeg
Publication date 2014
Adair, C. E., Kopp, B., Distasio, J., Hwang, S. W., Lavoie, J., Veldhuizen, S., Voronka, J., Kaufman, A. F., Somers, J. M., LeBlanc, S. R., Cote, S., Addorisio, S., Matte, D., & Goering, P. (2016). Housing quality in a randomized controlled trial of Housing First for Homeless Individuals with Mental Illness: Correlates and associations with outcomes. Journal of Urban Health, 93(4), 682-697. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11524-016-0062-9
Adair, C. E., Kopp, B., Lavoie, J., Distasio, J., Hwang, S. W., Watson, A., Veldhuizen, S., Chislett, K., Voronka, J., Ahmad, M., Ahmed, N., & Goering, P. (2014). Development and initial validation of the Observer-Rated Housing Quality Scale (OHQS) in a multisite trial of housing first. Journal of Urban Health, 91(2), 242-255. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11524-013-9851-6