Research

Our Mission

Valliant Foundation aims to conduct ethical research through hands-on fieldwork to understand the root causes of homelessness, find new strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of current homeless assistance programs. Our research will be conducted through a sociological lens, focusing on how socioeconomic factors influence the path an individual takes from being housed to being unhoused.

Join Us

In joining the research team, you can be an essential part of ethical sociological research that will directly inform our own intervention strategies, as well as educate the wider community to reduce stigmas surrounding homelessness as a whole. Research and education are two of the most essential parts of solving any social issue, and if you are looking to have a powerful impact on your community, we would love to have you on our team

Remote Work

While working in the field is highly encouraged, remote research opportunities may be available

Director Of Research

Spencer Rava, Director of Research

Spencer Rava is an undergrad at the University of Oregon, majoring in General Social Sciences with a focus in Crime, Law, and Society. Spencer worked in a research capacity for the nonprofit Questbridge, working on innovative ideas to help bring low-income high-achieving high school students to top colleges in the United States on full-ride scholarships. He has worked on various research projects for upper-division classes in subjects related to the mission of Valliant Foundation, primarily in Sociology and Psychology. As research director for Valliant Foundation, Spencer plans on conducting ethical research through a sociological lens. By analyzing real-world data collected by Valliant Foundation, he plans on assessing and informing current intervention strategies, as well as providing information and education to the wider community to reduce stigmas surrounding homelessness as a whole.

Public Health Research

Principle Investigator

As an EMT and suicide hotline counselor, public health disparities are frequently the center of my attention. I aim to lead a study that will shed light on these important issuse regarding one of San Francisco’s most vulnerable and underserved population. The principles of justice, beneficence, and respect for persons are at the forefront of my study design. Myself, and an associate professor from San Francisco State University’s School Of Nursing will be investigating health disparities among the homeless population, along with an expanding team of fourteen research assistants.

Read full proposal

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Stress Levels Among Homeless Individuals Utilizing the Perceived Stress Scale in Conjunction with Physiologic Markers Of Stress

ABSTRACT:

Background: Homelessness is a significant public health issue that exposes individuals to chronic stressors such as inadequate shelter, poor nutrition, untreated mental and physical health ailments, and limited access to healthcare. Chronic stress has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, and diabetes. Despite the heightened risks, homeless individuals are often underrepresented in medical research. This study aims to assess stress levels in homeless individuals using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and explore the correlation between self-reported stress and physiological markers such as heart and respiratory rates.

Objective: The primary objective is to determine the prevalence of high-stress levels among homeless individuals. The secondary aim is to evaluate the correlation between self-reported stress and physiological markers, and to identify potential demographic or environmental factors contributing to stress.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study will recruit adults aged 18-65 who have experienced homelessness for at least six consecutive months. Participants will complete the PSS to assess perceived stress, and their heart rate and respiratory rate will be measured. Data will also be collected on demographic factors, duration of homelessness, and substance use. Statistical analysis will be conducted to explore the correlation between PSS scores and physiological markers using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients.

Expected Results: The study anticipates finding a high prevalence of stress among homeless individuals, with a significant correlation between elevated PSS scores and abnormal physiological markers. Demographic factors such as duration of homelessness and substance use may also influence stress levels.

Conclusion: This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of stress levels in the homeless population, offering insights into the relationship between psychological and physiological stress indicators. The findings could inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing stress and improving the health outcomes of homeless individuals.

Research assistants

Our team is comprised of many undergrad and graduate students who have experience in biomedical and biotech research. All of their hard work will be noted on final publications. We welcome all who have a passion for serving others and scientific research to join our project.

Expanding List Of Research Assistants

Jesus Salcedo

Geomarie Ashley Saldana

Macarena Puig

Aaron Singh

Samantha Parton

Rianna Punzalan

Yacoob Modan

Cyrenity Fields

Melanie Magallanes

Minsun Park

Alondra Chavez

Melissa Hernandez-Monroy

Sean Velasquez