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Evaluation of a Supportive Housing Program for Adults Who Are Unhoused and Have Complex Health Needs

Homeless Persons

The study design is a cohort study with a propensity score-matched control group and difference-in-difference analysis to evaluate intervention effectiveness. A hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study framework is used that incorporates mixed methods to determine clinical effectiveness and explore implementation and participant well-being. Participants are selected based on their utilization of health services. Selection favoured those individuals with the most health service utilization. A control group will be created by selecting individuals from administrative hospital records that are propensity-score matched to the individuals in the treatment group (1:4 pair). The hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study framework was used to guide the selection of study aims and outcomes to focus primarily on clinical effectiveness, while also exploring implementation-related factors. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the Initiative on the number of emergency department visits and days spent in the hospital. The secondary objectives are to 2) evaluate the impact of the Initiative on program participants' health and well-being, 3) evaluate the implementation of the Initiative and assess program fidelity and barriers, and 4) to calculate the cost avoidance and cost-effectiveness of the Initiative.

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Participation Requirements

  • Sex:

    ALL

  • Eligible Ages:

    18 and up

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* The Housing Initiative is part of standard care and is not contingent on participating in any research activities. Patients that participate in the Housing Initiative will have the option to participate in the research study.
* To qualify for housing through the initiative, patients must have had 2 or more inpatient admissions or 6 or more visits to the emergency department in the past 6 months. They must also either identify as Indigenous or be currently without housing, which is defined as having spent at least one night in a shelter or having received assistance from city-funded street outreach providers in the past 90 days. Historically marginalized groups, including people with disabilities, women, gender-diverse individuals, and Indigenous people, are given priority for housing. Eligible patients are prioritized for housing offers based on their use of the University Health Network emergency departments in the past year.

There are no exclusion criteria that would disqualify participants from participating in the research study if they have already enrolled in the Social Medicine Housing Initiative.

Study Location

90 Dunn
90 Dunn
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Andrew Boozary, MD MPP CCFP

[email protected]
416-704- 3263
University Health Network
University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

Contact Study Team

Backup Contact

Andrew Boozary, MD MPP CCFP

Primary Contact

Andrew Boozary, MD MPP CCFP

[email protected]
416-704- 3263
Study Sponsored By
University Health Network, Toronto
Participants Required
More Information
Study ID: NCT06723093