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Research Demonstration Project on Mental Health and Homelessness – Vancouver, BC

The Vancouver At Home Study is part of a multi-site Canadian program of research that seeks to provide policy relevant evidence surrounding the service interventions that achieve improved housing stability, health and well-being for adults who are homeless and mentally ill.  The 4-year randomized controlled trial was structured to assess the effectiveness of different models of care based on the participants’ level of need and draws from a Housing First model where participants are assisted in community integration through the provision of independent, scattered-site housing and client-centred services. Intervention arms include low-barrier housing where sobriety or active treatment services are not required as a condition of housing with support services that are provided directly by intervention teams or that are brokered via community service agencies. 

Partners:

  • Researchers:           
    • Providence Healthcare
    • Simon Fraser University      
    • University of British Columbia
  • Project Service Providers:
    • Coast Foundation for Mental Health
    • Motivation, Power & Achievement Society
    • Portland Hotel Community Services Society
    • RainCity Housing
  • Community Stakeholders:
    • Atira Women's Resource Society
    • BC Housing
    • BC Mental Health and Addiction Services
    • BC Ministry of Health Services
    • Canadian Mental Health Association
    • City of Vancouver
    • The Kettle Friendship Society
    • Lookout Society
    • Providence Health Care/St. Paul’s Hospital
    • St. James Community Services Society
    • Streets to Home Foundation
    • Vancouver Coastal Health
    • Vancouver Foundation

Funding:

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Contact Info:

Denise Zabkiewicz

Resources:

Zabkiewicz, D., Patterson, M., Somers, J., Frankish, J., “The Vancouver At Home Study:  Overview and Methods of a Housing First Trial Among Individuals who are Homeless and Living with Mental Illness,” Journal of Clinical Trials, (in press)

Zabkiewicz, D., Patterson, M.  The Mental Health Problems of Homeless Women:  Are There Differences by Parenting Status?  Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research, Annual Conference, Montreal, QC, May 29-31, 2012.

Goering, P. N., Streiner, D. L., Adair, C., Aubry, T., Barker, J., Distasio, J., Hwang, S. W., Komaroff, J., Latimer, E., Somers, J., Zabkiewicz, D. M., “The At Home/Chez Soi trial protocol: a pragmatic, multi-site, randomised controlled trial of a Housing First intervention for homeless individuals with mental illness in five Canadian cities,” BMJ Open, 2011;1:e000323. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000323. 

Wright, A., Zabkiewicz, D.  Fragmented Families: A preview of the circumstances facing homeless mothers with mental health problems.  Women’s Mental Health Conference: Building Networks and Research Capacity, University of Toronto, October 2010.

Patterson, M., Schmidt, D., Zabkiewicz, D.  A Review of the At Home/Chez Soí Project Proposal Development and Planning Phase in Vancouver, BC.  Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, National Qualitative Working Group, July 2010.

Zabkiewicz, D., Patterson, M., Cox, K.  Fragmented Families:  Understanding the Health and Social Service System Needs Facing Homeless Mothers.  American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC., October, 2011.

2009-2013