Long-term effectiveness of housing and support services for homeless adults with mental illness

Abstract

Homelessness is a persistent social issue that requires creative and effective solutions. In 2008, the Canadian Government allocated CAN$110 million for a revolutionary research demonstration project to evaluate a radical approach to address homelessness—the provision of housing and voluntary services without any prerequisites, commonly known as Housing First. The pragmatic At Home/Chez Soi randomised controlled trial is the world's largest study of the Housing First intervention to date, in which the effect of the intervention was compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in 2000 people across five Canadian cities. 1 Goering P Veldhuizen S Watson A et al. National At Home/Chez Soi final report. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary2014 Google Scholar Long-term effects of rent supplements and mental health support services on housing and health outcomes of homeless adults with mental illness: extension study of the At Home/Chez Soi randomised controlled trialRent supplements and mental health support services had an enduring positive effect on housing stability for homeless adults with mental illness in a large, resource-rich urban centre, with a larger impact on individuals with high support needs than moderate support needs. Full-Text PDF