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): Milad Parpouchi, Akm Moniruzzaman, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2021
Open-access article.
Researchers have pointed out the paucity of research investigating long-term consequences of experiencing homelessness in childhood or youth. Limited research has indicated that the experience of homelessness in childhood or youth is associated with adverse adjustment-related consequences in adulthood. Housing First (HF) has acknowledged effectiveness in improving housing outcomes among adults experiencing homelessness and li...
Author(s): Milad Parpouchi, Akm Moniruzzaman, Stefanie N. Rezansoff, Angela Russolillo, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2017
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has important protective effects related to reduced illicit opioid use, infectious disease transmission, and overdose mortality. Adherence to MMT has not been examined among homeless people. We measured MMT adherence and reported relevant characteristics among homeless adults experiencing mental illness in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Author(s): Milad Parpouchi, Akm Moniruzzaman, Angela Russolillo, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2017
Background
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has important protective effects related to reduced illicit opioid use, infectious disease transmission, and overdose mortality. Adherence to MMT has not been examined among homeless people. We measured MMT adherence and reported relevant characteristics among homeless adults experiencing mental illness in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Material and methods
Homeless adults living with mental...
Author(s): Karen Urbanoski, Scott Veldhuizen, Michael Krausz, Christian Schütz, Julian M. Somers, Maritt Kirst, Marie-Josée Fleury, Vicky Stergiopoulos, Michelle Patterson, Verena Strehlau, Paula Goering
Publication Date: 2017
Background and Aims
Evidence supports the effectiveness of Housing First (HF) programs for people who are experiencing homelessness and mental illness; however, questions remain about its use in people with comorbid substance use disorders (SUD). The aim of this project was to test whether SUD modifies the effectiveness of an HF intervention.
Design
Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of HF versus treatment-as-usual (TAU...
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): Joshua P. Aquin, Leslie E. Roos, Jino Distasio, Laurence Y. Katz, Jimmy Bourque, James M. Bolton, Shay-Lee Bolton, Jacquelyne Y. Wong, Dan Chateau, Julian M. Somers, Murray W. Enns, Stephen W. Hwang, James C. Frankish, Jitender Sareen
Publication Date: 2017
Objective:
This study attempted to determine if Housing First (HF) decreased suicidal ideation and attempts compared to treatment as usual (TAU) amongst homeless persons with mental disorders, a population with a demonstrably high risk of suicidal behaviour.
Method:
The At Home/Chez Soi project is an unblinded, randomised control trial conducted across 5 Canadian cities (Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Moncton) from 2009 to 2013....
Author(s): Stefanie N. Rezansoff, Akm Moniruzzaman, Seena Fazel, Lawrence McCandless, Ric Procyshyn, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2016
Adherence to antipsychotic medication is a significant challenge among homeless patients. No experimental trials have investigated the impact of Housing First on adherence among patients with schizophrenia. We investigated whether Housing First in congregate and scattered-site configurations resulted in superior adherence compared to usual care. Adult participants (n = 165) met criteria for homelessness, schizophrenia, and initiation of antipsych...
Author(s): Angela Russolillo, Akm Moniruzzaman, Milad Parpouchi, Lauren B. Currie, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2016
Homelessness is associated with a very high prevalence of substance use and mental disorders and elevated levels of acute health service use. Among the homeless, little is known regarding the relative impact of specific mental disorders on healthcare utilization. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between different categories of diagnosed mental disorders with hospital admission and length of stay (LOS) in a cohort of hom...
Author(s): Adrienne Cheung, Julian M. Somers, Akm Moniruzzaman, Michelle Patterson, Charles J. Frankish, Krausz
Publication Date: 2015
Background
Homelessness, substance use, and mental disorders each have been associated with higher rates of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization. We sought to understand the correlation between ED use, hospital admission, and substance dependence among homeless individuals with concurrent mental illness who participated in a ‘Housing First’ (HF) intervention trial.
Methods
The Vancouver At Home study consisted of two randomized contr...
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): Michelle L. Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2015
Background
It is well documented that a disproportionate number of homeless adults have childhood histories of foster care placement(s). This study examines the relationship between foster care placement as a predictor of adult substance use disorders (including frequency, severity and type), mental illness, vocational functioning, service use and duration of homelessness among a sample of homeless adults with mental illness. We hypothesize that...
Author(s): Lauren B. Currie, Michelle L. Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Lawrence C. McCandless, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2014
Background
People experiencing homelessness and mental illness face multiple barriers to care. The goal of this study was to examine the association between health service use and indicators of need among individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Vancouver, Canada. We hypothesized that those with more severe mental illness would access greater levels of primary and specialist health services than those with less severe mental il...
Author(s): Michelle L. Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2014
Background
It is well documented that childhood abuse, neglect and household dysfunction are disproportionately present in the backgrounds of homeless adults, and that these experiences adversely impact child development and a wide range of adult outcomes. However, few studies have examined the cumulative impact of adverse childhood experiences on homeless adults with mental illness. This study examines adverse events in childhood as predictors...
Author(s): Lauren B. Currie, Akm Moniruzzaman, Michelle L. Patterson, Julian M. Somers
Organization: Mental Health Commission of Canada
Publication Date: 2014
This report documents the final results of the At Home/Chez Soi Vancouver site’s research demonstration project, which examined Housing First as a means of ending homelessness for people who are living with mental illness, with a particular focus on those who also had challenges with substance use. The project followed 497 participants for two years and compared Housing First to available local services.
Also available on the Mental Health Commis...
Author(s): Michelle L. Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2013
This study examines community integration among homeless adults with mental illness 6 and 12 months after random assignment to Housing First (independent apartments or congregate residence) with support services or to treatment as usual (TAU). Residence in independent apartments was associated with increased ‘psychological integration’ for participants with less severe needs; however, no significant improvement in ‘physical integration’ was obser...
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): 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): Michelle Louise Patterson, Akm Moniruzzaman, Charles James Frankish, Julian M. Somers
Publication Date: 2012
This study examines self-reported learning disabilities (LD) in childhood as predictors of duration of homelessness, mental and substance use disorders, physical health, and service utilisation in a sample of homeless adults with current mental illness (Authors).
OBJECTIVES:
It is well documented that early-learningproblems and poor academic achievement adversely impact childdevelopment and a wide range of adult outcomes; however, theseindicators...
Author(s): Michelle L. Patterson, Julian M. Somers, Akm Moniruzzaman
Publication Date: 2012
Recent research and policy making concerning homelessness has focused on the particular challenges associated with ending chronic homelessness. It is generally assumed that individuals who have been homeless for longer durations have a greater impact on the public system of care and are in need of the most assistance. The aim of this study was to examine key sample characteristics by duration of homelessness (total lifetime duration and longest s...