Self-reported surveys are commonly used when prioritising clients for homelessness services. However, when relying on self-reported historic vulnerabilities, one needs to be concerned about the degree to which clients might feel stigmatised by these questions and report inaccurately. This study examines the differences between self-reported experiences of mental health, healthcare, incarceration etc. and what is observed in administrative data.
The findings indicate that relying on self-reported needs assessments as a basis for homelessness services might be flawed.