Canadian Observatory on Homelessness
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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Author(s): John Sylvestre, Fran Klodawsky, Evie Gogosis, John Ecker, Anne Gadermann, Anita Palepu, Stephen Hwang
Publication Date: 2018
Abstract
Housing is a key social determinant of health that contributes to the well-documented relationship between socioeconomic status and health. This study explored how individuals with histories of unstable and precarious housing perceive their housing or shelter situations, and the impact of these settings on their health and well-being. Participants were recruited from the Health and Housing in Transition study (HHiT), a longitudinal, mul...
Author(s): Julian M. Somers, Akm Moniruzzaman, Michelle Patterson, Lauren Currie, Stefanie N. Rezansoff, Anita Palepu, Karen Fryer
Publication Date: 2017
Objective
No previous experimental trials have investigated Housing First (HF) in both scattered site (SHF) and congregate (CHF) formats. We hypothesized that CHF and SHF would be associated with a greater percentage of time stably housed as well as superior health and psychosocial outcomes over 24 months compared to treatment as usual (TAU).
Methods
Inclusion criteria were homelessness, mental illness, and high need for support. Participants wer...
Author(s): Matthew J. To, Anita Palepu, Flora I. Matheson, John Ecker, Susan Farrell, Stephen W. Hwang, Dan Werb
Publication Date: 2017
OBJECTIVES:
The objective of the study is to characterize the associations between a history of incarceration and subsequent housing stability over a two-year follow-up period among a sample of homeless and vulnerably housed individuals.
METHODS:
The study was a prospective cohort study of homeless and vulnerably housed adults in three Canadian cities. Between 2009 and 2012, data were collected using structured, in-person interviews at baseline...
Author(s): Denise Jaworsky, Anne Gadermann, Arnaud Duhoux, Trudy E. Naismith, Monica Norena, Matthew J. To, Stephen W. Hwang, Anita Palepu
Publication Date: 2016
This study examined the association of housing status over time with unmet physical health care needs and emergency department utilization among homeless and vulnerably housed persons in Canada. Homeless and vulnerably housed individuals completed interviewer-administered surveys on housing, unmet physical health care needs, health care utilization, sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and health conditions at baseline and annually fo...
Author(s): Anne M. Gadermann, Richard Sawatzky, Anita Palepu, Anita M. Hubley, Bruno D. Zumbo, Tim Aubry, Susan Farrell, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2016
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine whether homeless or vulnerably housed individuals experienced response shift over a 12-month time period in their self-reported physical and mental health status.
Methods
Data were obtained from the Health and Housing in Transition study, a longitudinal multi-site cohort study in Canada (N = 1190 at baseline). Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) and methods for response shift detec...
Author(s): Mohammadali Nikoo, Anne Gadermann, Matthew J. To, Michael Krausz, Stephen W. Hwang, Anita Palepu
Publication Date: 2016
Objective:
To examine the factors associated with incident traumatic brain injury (TBI) among homeless and vulnerably housed persons over a 3-year follow-up period.
Setting and participants:
Data were obtained from the Health and Housing in Transition study, which tracked the health and housing status of 1190 homeless or vulnerably housed individuals in 3 Canadian cities for 3 years.
Design and Main Measures:
Main measure was self-reported incide...
Author(s): Matthew J. To, Anita Palepu, Tim Aubry, Rosane Nisenbaum, Evie Gogosis, Anne Gadermann, Rebecca Cherner, Susan Farrell, Vachan Misir, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2016
Abstract
Background
Homelessness is a major concern in many urban communities across North America. Since vulnerably housed individuals are at risk of experiencing homelessness, it is important to identify predictive factors linked to subsequent homelessness in this population. The objectives of this study were to determine the probability of experiencing homelessness among vulnerably housed adults over three years and factors associated with h...
Author(s): Charlotte E. Hunter, Anita Palepu, Susan Farrell, Evie Gogosis, Kristen O’Brien, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2015
Objectives
Medication adherence is an important determinant of successful medical treatment. Marginalized populations, such as homeless and vulnerably housed individuals, may face substantial barriers to medication adherence. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, reasons for, and factors associated with medication nonadherence among homeless and vulnerably housed individuals. Additionally, we examined the association between medication...
Author(s): Julian M. Somers, Akm Moniruzzaman, Anita Palepu
Publication Date: 2015
Aims
Housing First (HF) is an established intervention for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. We compared daily substance use (DSU) between HF and treatment as usual (TAU).
Design
Two concurrent randomized controlled trials with 24-month follow up.
Setting
Market rental apartments with support provided by Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) or Intensive Case Management (ICM); a single building with on site supports (CO...
Author(s): Matthew J. To, Kristen O'Brien, Anita Palepu, Anita M. Hubley, Susan Farrell, Tim Aubry, Evie Gogosis, Wendy Muckle, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2014
Objective: To characterize the associations between a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent healthcare utilization, legal involvement, and victimization.
Setting: Three major Canadian cities.
Participants: A total of 1181 homeless and vulnerably housed adults who were single and 18 years or older. Data for 968 participants (82%) were available at 1-year follow-up.
Design: Prospective cohort study. Data were collected using struct...
Author(s): Anita Palepu, Michelle L. Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, James Frankish, Julian Somers
Publication Date: 2013
Objectives. We examined the relationship between substance dependence and residential stability in homeless adults with current mental disorders 12 months after randomization to Housing First programs or treatment as usual (no housing or support through the study).
Methods. The Vancouver At Home study in Canada included 2 randomized controlled trials of Housing First interventions. Eligible participants met the criteria for homelessness or preca...
Author(s): Anita Palepu, Anne Gadermann, Anita M. Hubley, Susan Farrell, Evie Gogosis, Tim Aubry, Stephen W Hwang
Publication Date: 2013
We examined the prevalence of substance use disorders among homeless and vulnerably housed persons in three Canadian cities and its association with unmet health care needs and access to addiction treatment using baseline data from the Health and Housing in Transition Study.
Methods
In 2009, 1191 homeless and vulnerably housed persons were recruited in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa, Canada. Interviewer administered questionnaires collected data...
Author(s): Julian M. Somers, Stefanie N. Rezansoff, Akm Moniruzzaman, Anita Palepu, Michelle Patterson
Publication Date: 2013
Homelessness and mental illness have a strong association with public disorder and criminality. Experimental evidence indicates that Housing First (HF) increases housing stability and perceived choice among those experiencing chronic homelessness and mental disorders. HF is also associated with lower residential costs than common alternative approaches. Few studies have examined the effect of HF on criminal behavior.
Methods Individuals meeting c...
Author(s): Julian M. Somers, Stefanie N. Rezansoff, Akm Moniruzzaman, Anita Palepu, Michelle Patterson
Publication Date: 2013
Homelessness and mental illness have a strong association with public disorder and criminality. Experimental evidence indicates that Housing First (HF) increases housing stability and perceived choice among those experiencing chronic homelessness and mental disorders. HF is also associated with lower residential costs than common alternative approaches. Few studies have examined the effect of HF on criminal behavior.
Author(s): Niran Argintaru, Catherine Chambers, Evie Gogosis, Susan Farrell, Anita Palepu, Fran Klodawsky, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2013
Homeless persons experience a high burden of health problems; yet, they face significant barriers in accessing health care. Less is known about unmet needs for care among vulnerably housed persons who live in poor-quality or temporary housing and are at high risk of becoming homeless. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet needs for health care in a population-based sample of homeless and...
Author(s): Michelle Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Anita Palepu, Denise Zabkiewicz, Charles J. Frankish, Michael Krausz, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2013
This study used an experimental design to examine longitudinal changes in subjective quality of life (QoL) among homeless adults with mental illness after assignment to different types of supported housing or to treatment as usual (TAU, no housing or supports through the study). We hypothesized that subjective QoL would improve over time among participants assigned to supported housing as compared to TAU, regardless of the type of supported housi...
Author(s): Anne M. Gadermann, Anita M. Hubley, Lara B. Russell, Anita Palepu
Publication Date: 2013
Although the association between homelessness and objective indicators of poor health is well-established, little research has focused on the subjective health-related quality of life of homeless and vulnerably housed (HVH) individuals. This study examined the subjective health-related quality of life of HVH individuals, using the Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) Scale for Health of the Quality of Life for Homeless and Hard-to-House Individual...
Author(s): Anita Palepu, Michelle Patterson, Verena Strehlau, Akm Moniruzzamen, Jason Tan de Bibiana, James Frankish, Michael Krausz, Julian Somers
Publication Date: 2012
Substance use can be a barrier to stable housing for homeless persons with mental disorders. We examined DSM-IV symptoms among homeless adults (N = 497), comparing those who reported daily substance use (DSU) with non-daily substance users. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to test the independent association between DSU and symptoms using the Colorado Symptom Index total score. DSU was independently associated with higher symptom...
Author(s): Anita M. Hubley, Lara B. Russell, Anita Palepu, Stephen W. Hwang
Publication Date: 2012
The purpose of this article was to review the current literature on subjective quality of life (SQOL) in individuals who are homeless, with a focus on differences in SQOL (a) between homeless individuals and the general population, (b) based on housing situation, and (c) associated with demographic characteristics (such as age and gender), physical and mental health, and external variables such as service program type. A literature search was con...
Author(s): Evan Wood, Kathy Li, Anita Palepu, David C. Marsh, Martin T. Schechter, Robert S. Hogg, Julio S.G. Montaner, Thomas Kerr
Publication Date: 2005
Vancouver's explosive HIV epidemic among injection drug users (IDUs) has received international attention due to the presence of a large needle exchange program. The role of addiction treatment has not been evaluated in this setting. We evaluated factors associated with use of addiction treatment among a prospective cohort of Vancouver IDUs. Addiction treatment was negatively associated with Aboriginal ethnicity and unstable housing, both of whic...