A randomized trial of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons with high use of publicly funded services

Policy, Design, and Critical Reflections on Behavioral Health Crisis Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

People experiencing homelessness in crisis have unique structural vulnerabilities and social needs, most importantly lack of housing. Ideal crisis services for people experiencing homelessness must safeguard against criminalization and displacement during periods of crisis, prioritize equity, and provide housing interventions alongside mental health treatment at every stage in the crisis continuum. By outlining how to tailor crisis system financing and accountability, service component and capacity, and clinical best practices, the authors aim to provide hope and guidance for communities aiming to create an ideal crisis system for people experiencing homelessness.

'Housing First' Increased Psychiatric Care Office Visits And Prescriptions While Reducing Emergency Visits

Housing First is an approach to ending homelessness that recognizes permanent housing as a platform for stability and engagement in health services. As part of a randomized controlled trial to test the effects of permanent supportive housing with the Housing First approach in Denver, Colorado, we analyzed the intervention's impact on health care use, Medicaid enrollment, and mortality among people experiencing chronic homelessness who had frequent arrests and jail stays. Two years after assignment to the Housing First intervention, participants had an average of eight more office-based visits for psychiatric diagnoses, three more prescription medications, and six fewer emergency department visits than the control group. Although enrollment in Medicaid increased over the course of the study for both the intervention group and the control group, the intervention group was 5 percentage points less likely to be enrolled in Medicaid. Supportive housing had no significant impact on mortality. When considering pathways to scale up supportive housing, policy makers should recognize the potential of Housing First to facilitate the use of office-based psychiatric care and medications in a population with many health care needs.

Housing Status Changes Are Associated With Cancer Outcomes Among US Veterans

Cancer is a leading cause of death in older unhoused adults. We assessed whether being unhoused, gaining housing, or losing housing in the year after cancer diagnosis is associated with poorer survival compared with being continuously housed. We examined all-cause survival in more than 100,000 veterans diagnosed with lung, colorectal, and breast cancer during the period 2011-20. Five percent were unhoused at the time of diagnosis, of whom 21 percent gained housing over the next year; 1 percent of veterans housed at the time of diagnosis lost housing. Continuously unhoused veterans and veterans who lost their housing had poorer survival after lung and colorectal cancer diagnosis compared with those who were continuously housed. There was no survival difference between veterans who gained housing after diagnosis and veterans who were continuously housed. These findings support policies to prevent and end homelessness in people after cancer diagnosis, to improve health outcomes.

Variables Associated with Quality of Life Among Individuals Living in Permanent Supportive Housing

This study identified individual sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and service use patterns associated with quality of life (QoL) among 308 individuals living in permanent supportive housing (PSH) in Québec (Canada). Data were collected between 2020 and 2022, and linear multivariate analyses produced. Results demonstrated that better individual psychosocial conditions were positively associated with higher QoL. As well, living in PSH located in good neighborhoods for at least 5 years, higher self-esteem and community integration were positively associated with greater QoL. Met needs, satisfaction with housing support services, and no use of acute care were also linked with positive QoL. Comprehensive efforts to improve treatment for mental health disabilities responsive to the needs of PSH residents, and sustained long-term housing may reinforce QoL. Encouraging active participation in community-based activities, incorporating biophilic design into the neighborhoods around PSH, and promoting satisfaction with care may also enhance QoL.

Homelessness And Health: Factors, Evidence, Innovations That Work, And Policy Recommendations

On a single night in 2023, more than 653,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States. In this overview, we highlight structural and individual risk factors that can lead to homelessness, explore evidence on the relationship between homelessness and health, discuss programmatic and policy innovations, and provide policy recommendations. Health system efforts to address homelessness and improve the health of homeless populations have included interventions such as screening for social needs and medical respite programs. Initiatives using the Housing First approach to permanent supportive housing have a strong track record of success. Health care financing innovations using Medicaid Section 1115 waivers offer promising new approaches to improving health and housing for people experiencing homelessness. To substantially reduce homelessness and its many adverse health impacts, changes are needed to increase the supply of affordable housing for households with very low incomes. Health care providers and systems should leverage their political power to advocate for policies that scale durable, evidence-based solutions to reduce homelessness, including increased funding to expand housing choice vouchers and greater investment in the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

PRELIMINARY IMPACT OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ON HOSPITAL UTILIZATION FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Housing instability has been shown to negatively impact physical and mental health, with a corresponding increase in health care utilization. In 2019, through a Maryland Medicaid 1115 Health Choice Waiver, 10 Baltimore city hospitals joined with the city of Baltimore and the local nonprofit Health Care for the Homeless to support an innovative program that provides permanent housing and wraparound services to individuals at risk of homelessness. Here, we describe the inception of the program and its subsequent expansion with the investment of the city hospitals. Participants in the program experienced a 48% reduction in all hospital visits and a 51% reduction in emergency department visits in the 12 months following their receipt of housing compared to the 12 months before enrollment. These data suggest the potential health benefits of housing and supportive services as an intervention.

Permanent Supportive Housing Receipt and Health Care Use Among Adults With Disabilities

This study assessed whether permanent supportive housing (PSH) participation is associated with health service use among a population of adults with disabilities, including people transitioning into PSH from community and institutional settings. Our primary data sources were 2014 to 2018 secondary data from a PSH program in North Carolina linked to Medicaid claims. We used propensity score weighting to estimate the average treatment effect on the treated of PSH participation. All models were stratified by whether individuals were in institutional or community settings prior to PSH. In weighted analyses, among individuals who were institutionalized prior to PSH, PSH participation was associated with greater hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits and fewer primary care visits during the follow-up period, compared with similar individuals who largely remained institutionalized. Individuals who entered PSH from community settings did not have significantly different health service use from similar comparison group members during the 12-month follow-up period.

Changes in Health Care Utilization and Associated Costs After Supportive Housing Placement by an Urban Community Mental Health Center

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with mental illness can reduce utilization of crisis care services and increase utilization of outpatient care, although the extent to which pre-housing utilization patterns influence post-housing utilization remains unclear. Therefore, pre- and post-housing health service utilization was examined in 80 individuals living with a chronic mental illness who were and were not utilizing health care services in the years pre- and post-housing. Overall, the proportion of tenants utilizing outpatient services, including outpatient behavioral health services, increased from pre- to post-housing. Tenants who did not use outpatient behavioral health services prior to housing were disproportionately less likely than their peers to use those services after being housed. Among tenants who utilized crisis care services prior to being housed, reductions were observed in the number of crisis care visits. Results suggest PSH leads to changes in health care utilization and associated costs.

Using behavioral theory to adapt advance care planning for homeless-experienced older adults in permanent supportive housing

BACKGROUND

Older adults experiencing chronic homelessness (i.e., prolonged homelessness and a disabling condition) have low rates of advance care planning (ACP) despite high rates of morbidity and mortality. Rehousing of homeless-experienced individuals into permanent supportive housing (PSH) may present an opportunity to introduce ACP; but this is unknown. Therefore, we explored staff and resident perceptions of conducting ACP in PSH.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with PSH staff (n = 13) and tenants (PSH residents) (n = 26) in San Francisco. We used the capability (C), opportunity (O), motivation (M), behavior (COM-B) framework within the Behavior Change Wheel model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to inform interviews, categorize themes, and guide qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of PSH residents was 67 (SD = 6.1) years and 52% were women. Of staff, 69% were women. Important COM-B barriers included ACP complexity (C), complicated relationship dynamics (O), resource limitations (O), pessimism (M), variable staff confidence (M), and competing priorities (M). Facilitators included easy-to-use documents/videos, including the PREPARE for Your Care program (C), stability with housing (O), exposure to health crises (O), potential for strong relationships (O), and belief that ACP is impactful (M). Recommendations included adapting materials to the PSH setting, providing staff trainings/scripts, and using optional one-on-one or group sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified behavioral determinants related to ACP for formerly chronically homeless older adults in PSH. Future interventions should include using easy-to-use ACP materials and developing resources to educate PSH residents, train staff, and model ACP in groups or one-on-one sessions.

The POP (Permanent Supportive Housing Overdose Prevention) Study: protocol for a hybrid type 3 stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Permanent supportive housing (PSH)-subsidized housing paired with support services such as case management-is a key part of national strategic plans to end homelessness. PSH tenants face high overdose risk due to a confluence of individual and environmental risk factors, yet little research has examined overdose prevention in PSH.

METHODS

We describe the protocol for a hybrid type 3 stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of overdose prevention practice implementation in PSH. We adapted evidence-based overdose prevention practices and implementation strategies for PSH using input from stakeholder focus groups. The trial will include 20 PSH buildings (with building size ranging from 20 to over 150 tenants) across New York City and New York's Capital Region. Buildings will be randomized to one of four 6-month intervention waves during which they will receive a package of implementation support including training in using a PSH Overdose Prevention (POP) Toolkit, time-limited practice facilitation, and learning collaboratives delivered to staff and tenant implementation champions appointed by each building. The primary outcome is building-level fidelity to a defined list of overdose prevention practices. Secondary and exploratory implementation and effectiveness outcomes will be examined using PSH staff and tenant survey questionnaires, and analysis of tenant Medicaid data. We will explore factors related to implementation success, including barriers and facilitators, using qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. The project is being conducted through an academic-community partnership, and an Advisory Board including PSH tenants and other key stakeholders will be engaged in all stages of the project.

DISCUSSION

We describe the protocol for a hybrid type 3 stepped-wedge cluster RCT of overdose prevention practice implementation in PSH. This study will be the first controlled trial of overdose prevention implementation in PSH settings. The research will make a significant impact by testing and informing future implementation strategies to prevent overdose for a population at particularly high risk for overdose mortality. Findings from this PSH-focused research are expected to be broadly applicable to other housing settings and settings serving people experiencing homelessness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05786222 , registered 27 March 2023.

Experience delivering an integrated service model to people with criminal justice system involvement and housing insecurity

BACKGROUND

People returning to communities from prison or jail face stressors related to securing housing, including discrimination, restrictions based on prior felony convictions, and limited economic and social resources. Existing housing programs can effectively reduce housing instability but often do not fully address the needs of people involved in the criminal justice system experiencing homelessness who often have co-occurring chronic medical issues, and psychiatric and substance use disorders.

METHODS

Project CHANGE is an ongoing program to deliver person-centered, integrated care and services to individuals involved with the criminal justice system and experiencing homelessness. Applying a Screening, Brief Intervention, (Referral to) Treatment framework, a comprehensive needs assessment is followed by delivery of intensive housing and vocational case management; and psychiatric, substance use, and medical services in a single location by an interdisciplinary team. Participants are followed with study interviews for 12 months. The current analysis was designed to assess the baseline characteristics and needs of the sample population, and the intensity of contact required for integrated service delivery.

RESULTS

Between November 2019 and September 2021, 86 participants were enrolled, of whom 64% had been released from prison/jail in the past 6 months; the remainder were on parole, probation, or intensive pretrial supervision. Participants were unstably housed (64%) or residing outdoors (26.7%) or in a shelter (24.4%). Most participants had high medical need and frequent healthcare engagement through outpatient and emergency department visits. Most participants were at-risk for clinical depression, and half were diagnosed with anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform, and other non-psychotic psychiatric disorders. Over 12-month follow-up, the interdisciplinary team made over 500 contact encounters, over half of which resulted in direct services provided, including obtaining vital documents for homelessness verification, housing applications, and employment coaching.

CONCLUSION

Navigation of services can be particularly challenging for individuals experiencing criminal justice involvement, homelessness, and co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and substance use issues, which can be addressed holistically in an integrated service model. Integrated service delivery was time-, resource-, and staffing-intensive, and challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring innovative solutions to sustain participant engagement.

Care and Complexity in Emergency Housing: an Examination of the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place (SIP) Hotel Program to House People Experiencing Homelessness in San Francisco

In this study, we consider the patient, provider, and public health repercussions of San Francisco's (SF) COVID-related response to homelessness using tourist hotels to house people experiencing homelessness (PEH). We describe the demographics, medical comorbidities, and healthcare utilization patterns of a subset of PEH who accessed the shelter-in-place (SIP) hotel sites during the 2020-2021 pandemic. We focus on how SIP hotels impacted connection to outpatient care and higher-cost emergency utilization. Our mixed methods study integrates qualitative and quantitative data to consider the impact of this temporary housing initiative among a medically complex cohort in a time of increased morbidity and mortality related to substance use. We found that temporary SIP housing increased outpatient care and reduced higher-cost hospital utilization. Our results can inform the future design and implementation of integrated supportive housing models to reduce mortality and promote wellness for PEH.

Navigator programme for hospitalised adults experiencing homelessness: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

People experiencing homelessness suffer from poor outcomes after hospitalisation due to systemic barriers to care, suboptimal transitions of care, and intersecting health and social burdens. Case management programmes have been shown to improve housing stability, but their effects on broad posthospital outcomes in this population have not been rigorously evaluated. The Navigator Programme is a Critical Time Intervention case management programme that was developed to help homeless patients with their postdischarge needs and to link them with community-based health and social services. This randomised controlled trial examines the impact of the Navigator Programme on posthospital outcomes among adults experiencing homelessness.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of the Navigator Programme at an urban academic teaching hospital and an urban community teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Six hundred and forty adults experiencing homelessness who are admitted to the hospital will be randomised to receive support from a Homeless Outreach Counsellor for 90 days after hospital discharge or to usual care. The primary outcome is follow-up with a primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner) within 14 days of hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes include postdischarge mortality or readmission, number of days in hospital, number of emergency department visits, self-reported care transition quality, and difficulties meeting subsistence needs. Quantitative outcomes are being collected over a 180-day period through linked patient-reported and administrative health data. A parallel mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted to explore intervention context, implementation and mechanisms of impact.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the Unity Health Toronto Research Ethics Board. Participants will be required to provide written informed consent. Results of the main trial and process evaluation will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and shared with hospital leadership, community partners and policy makers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04961762.

Cluster Analysis of the Highest Users of Medical, Behavioral Health, and Social Services in San Francisco

BACKGROUND

In the City and County of San Francisco, frequent users of emergent and urgent services across different settings (i.e., medical, mental health (MH), substance use disorder (SUD) services) are referred to as high users of multiple systems (HUMS). While often grouped together, frequent users of the health care system are likely a heterogenous population composed of subgroups with differential management needs.

OBJECTIVE

To identify subgroups within this HUMS population using a cluster analysis.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of HUMS patients for the 2019-2020 fiscal year using the Coordinated Care Management System (CCMS), San Francisco Department of Public Health's integrated data system.

PARTICIPANTS

We calculated use scores based on nine types of urgent and emergent medical, MH, and SUD services and identified the top 5% of HUMS patients. Through k-medoids cluster analysis, we identified subgroups of HUMS patients.

MAIN MEASURES

Subgroup-specific demographic, comorbidity, and service use profiles.

KEY RESULTS

The top 5% of HUMS patients in the study period included 2657 individuals; 69.7% identified as men and 66.5% identified as non-White. We detected 5 subgroups: subgroup 1 (N = 298, 11.2%) who were relatively younger with prevalent MH and SUD comorbidities, and MH services use; subgroup 2 (N = 478, 18.0%), who were experiencing homelessness, with multiple comorbidities, and frequent use of medical services; subgroup 3 (N = 449, 16.9%), who disproportionately self-identified as Black, with prolonged homelessness, multiple comorbidities, and persistent HUMS status; subgroup 4 (N = 690, 26.0%), who were relatively older, disproportionately self-identified as Black, with prior homelessness, multiple comorbidities, and frequent use of medical services; and subgroup 5 (N=742, 27.9%), who disproportionately self-identified as Latinx, were housed, with medical comorbidities and frequent medical service use.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the heterogeneity of HUMS patients. Interventions must be tailored to meet the needs of these diverse patient subgroups.

"Nobody Wants to Talk About It, Especially in This Building": A Qualitative Study of How People Living in Permanent Supportive Housing Approach End-Of-Life Care

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is long-term affordable housing with onsite social services. End-of-life care (EOLC) involves a discussion about the type of medical care an individual hopes to receive at the end of their life. This qualitative study examines the goals, desires, and expectations for EOLC for people living in PSH. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 formerly homeless residents in four PSH facilities in San Francisco, California and analyzed using the framework method. The interviews reveal how an individual's experience with housing precarity and with the PSH setting shape their preferences and expectations for the end of life. While PSH residents value social support in their final days, social isolation in PSH serves as a barrier to receiving such support. Results from this work can inform policies and programs to support people living in PSH in achieving their desired death.

Unpacking complex interventions that manage care for high-need, high-cost patients: a realist review

OBJECTIVE

Payers, providers and policymakers in the USA are interested in developing interventions that reduce preventable or modifiable healthcare use among high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients. This study seeks to describe how and why complex interventions for HNHC patients lead to more appropriate use of healthcare services.

DESIGN

A realist review which develops programme theories from causal explanations generated and articulated through the creation of context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

METHODS

Electronic databases (including PubMed and Embase) and gray literature from January 2000 to March 2021 were searched. All study designs were included if the article provided data to develop our programme theories. Included studies were conducted in the USA and focused on interventions for adult, HNHC patients.

RESULTS

Data were synthesised from 48 studies. Identifying HNHC patients for inclusion in interventions requires capturing a combination of characteristics including their prior use of healthcare services, complexity of chronic disease(s) profile, clinician judgment and willingness to participate. Once enrolled, engaging HNHC patients in interventions requires intervention care providers and patients to build a trusting relationship. Tailored, individualised assistance for medical and non-medical needs, emotional support and self-management education empowers patients to increase their participation in managing their own care. Engagement of care providers in interventions to expand support of HNHC patients is facilitated by targeted outreach, adequate staffing support with shared values and regular and open communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Building relationships with HNHC patients and gaining their trust is a key component for interventions to successfully change HNHC patients' behaviors. Identifying HNHC patients for an intervention can be best achieved through a multipronged strategy that accounts for their clinical and psychosocial complexity and prior experiences with the healthcare system. Successful interventions recognise that relationships with HNHC patients require the sustained engagement of care providers. To succeed, providers need ongoing emotional, financial, logistical and practical resources.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020161179.

Community Supervision, Housing Insecurity, & Homelessness

In recent decades, the United States has seen the simultaneous rise of mass incarceration and homelessness. The two crises interact with and worsen one another. Mass incarceration and homelessness are driven by the same structural factors and exacerbate one another in a feedback loop. People on community supervision face many barriers to housing, putting them at high risk of experiencing homelessness in the months following release. People experiencing homelessness are at heightened risk of criminal justice involvement, including violating the terms of their community supervision, for engaging in survival behaviors in public spaces. This paper presents evidence-based approaches to improving housing strategies for reentry populations, preventing homelessness among those in community supervision, and rehousing members of the reentry community experiencing homelessness. It concludes with recommendations for policymakers interested in improving housing outcomes and overall reentry success for people on community supervision.

Unstable Housing and Kidney Disease: A Primer

Stable housing is essential for health. Over 580,000 Americans experienced homelessness during one night in 2020, and over 37 million households spend over 30% of their income on housing. Unstable housing has been associated with mortality, acute care utilization, communicable and non-communicable diseases, a higher risk of kidney disease, and kidney disease progression. In this review, we define various forms of unstable housing, provide an overview of the interaction between unstable housing and health, and discuss existing evidence associating housing and kidney disease. We provide historical context for unstable housing in the United States, and detail policy, community, and individual-level factors that contribute to the risk of unstable housing. Unstable housing likely affects kidney health via a complex interplay of individual and structural factors. Various screening tools are available for use by providers. Special considerations should be made when working with individuals experiencing unstable housing to meet their unique needs, facilitate health care engagement, and optimize outcomes. Housing interventions have been shown to improve outcomes and should be examined for their role in kidney disease.

Factors Associated with Incarceration in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Study

BACKGROUND

In the US, the median age of adults experiencing homelessness and incarceration is increasing. Little is known about risk factors for incarceration among older adults experiencing homelessness. To develop targeted interventions, there is a need to understand their risk factors for incarceration.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence and risk factors associated with incarceration in a cohort of older adults experiencing homelessness.

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal cohort study with interviews every 6 months for a median of 5.8 years.

PARTICIPANTS

We recruited adults ≥50 years old and homeless at baseline (n=433) via population-based sampling.

MAIN MEASURES

Our dependent variable was incident incarceration, defined as one night in jail or prison per 6-month follow-up period after study enrollment. Independent variables included socioeconomic status, social, health, housing, and prior criminal justice involvement.

KEY RESULTS

Participants had a median age of 58 years and were predominantly men (75%) and Black (80%). Seventy percent had at least one chronic medical condition, 12% reported heavy drinking, and 38% endorsed moderate-severe use of cocaine, 8% of amphetamines, and 7% of opioids. At baseline, 84% reported a lifetime history of jail stays; 37% reported prior prison stays. During follow-up, 23% spent time in jail or prison. In multivariable models, factors associated with a higher risk of incarceration included the following: having 6 or more confidants (HR=2.13, 95% CI=1.2-3.7, p=0.007), remaining homeless (HR=1.72, 95% CI=1.1-2.8, p=0.02), heavy drinking (HR=2.05, 95% CI=1.4-3.0, p<0.001), moderate-severe amphetamine use (HR=1.89, 95% CI=1.2-3.0, p=0.006), and being on probation (HR=3.61, 95% CI=2.4-5.4, p<0.001) or parole (HR=3.02, 95% CI=1.5-5.9, p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults experiencing homelessness have a high risk of incarceration. There is a need for targeted interventions addressing substance use, homelessness, and reforming parole and probation in order to abate the high ongoing risk of incarceration among older adults experiencing homelessness.

Barriers and Facilitators to Resolving Older Adult Homelessness through Stays with Family: Qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME Study

Living with family and friends is a common strategy used to prevent or exit homelessness, but little is known about structural barriers that impede family and friends' ability to provide temporary or permanent housing for older homeless adults. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 homeless participants from the HOPE HOME study, a cohort of 350 community-recruited homeless adults age 50 or older in Oakland, CA, who reported having stayed with housed family/friends for 1 or more nights in the prior 6 months. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 hosts of homeless participants and 11 stakeholders in housing and homelessness. We found that homeless older adults and hosts perceived staying with family or friends as a form of temporary housing rather than as a permanent exit to homelessness. Structural barriers to family and friends providing housing for temporary stays or permanent exits from homelessness included housing regulations restricting visitors and changing rent obligations; decreased eligibility and priority for shelter and permanent housing; geographic and transportation challenges; and environments inconducive to older adults. We suggest four areas for policy reform: providing subsidies to hosts and homeless individuals, removing disincentives for homeless older adults to stay with family, changing lease regulations, and expanding the supply of affordable housing.

The Effect of a Housing First Intervention on Acute Health Care Utilization among Homeless Adults with Mental Illness: Long-term Outcomes of the At Home/Chez-Soi Randomized Pragmatic Trial

We assessed the effects of the Toronto Site Housing First (HF) intervention on hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits among homeless adults with mental illness over 7 years of follow-up. The Toronto Site is part of an unblinded multi-site randomized pragmatic trial of HF for homeless adults with mental illness in Canada, which followed participants up to 7 years. Five hundred seventy-five participants were recruited and classified as having high (HN) or moderate need (MN) for mental health support services. Each group was randomized into intervention (HF) and treatment as usual groups, and 567 (98.6%) consented to link their data to health administrative databases. HF participants received a monthly rent supplement of $600 (Canadian) and assertive community treatment (ACT) support or intensive care management (ICM) support based on need level. Treatment as usual (TAU) participants had access to social, housing, and health services generally available in the community. Outcomes included all-cause and mental health-specific hospitalization, number of days in hospital, and ED visit. We used GEE models to estimate ratio of rate ratios (RRR). The results showed HF with ACT had no significant effect on hospitalization rates among HN participants, but reduced the number of days in hospital (RRR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.63) and number of ED visits (RRR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.95). HF with ICM resulted in an increase in the number of hospitalizations (RRR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.09-2.60) and ED visit rates (RRR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.01-2.01) but had no effect in days in hospital for MN participants. Addressing the health needs of this population and reducing acute care utilization remain system priorities. Trial registration: http://www.isrctn.com/identifier: ISRCTN42520374.

National trends in substance use treatment admissions for opioid use disorder among adults experiencing homelessness

OBJECTIVE

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have high rates of substance use, and homelessness may be an important driver of health disparities in the opioid overdose epidemic. However, few studies focus on homelessness among the opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment population. We examine national-level trends in substance use treatment admissions among PEH with OUD.

METHODS

This study used data from first-time treatment admissions in the United States from the Treatment Episode Data Set: Admissions (TEDS-A) to examine characteristics and trends of adults experiencing homelessness who entered state-licensed substance use treatment programs for OUD from 2013 to 2017. We used chi-squared analyses to examine changes in characteristics of this population over time and logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among PEH.

RESULTS

Among all adults with OUD entering specialty treatment from 2013 to 2017, 12.5% reported experiencing homelessness. Compared to individuals not experiencing homelessness, PEH were more likely to be male, inject opioids, use cocaine or methamphetamine, and enter into residential detoxification treatment. PEH were less likely to enter outpatient treatment or receive MOUD. From 2013 to 2017, significant increases occurred in the proportion of PEH who had co-occurring psychiatric problems and used methamphetamines. Over time, treatment type shifted significantly from residential detoxification to outpatient treatment. Receipt of MOUD increased among PEH over time (13.7% to 25.2%), but lagged behind increases among individuals not experiencing homelessness. Among PEH, being older was associated with receiving MOUD, while concurrent methamphetamine use [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.63; 95% CI 0.58, 0.69] and living in the southern United States (AOR 0.27; 95% CI 0.25, 0.30) were associated with not receiving MOUD.

DISCUSSION

The proportion of PEH with OUD who receive medications as part of treatment increased over time, but three quarters of PEH entering treatment still do not receive this highest standard in evidence-based care. The sharp increase observed in concomitant methamphetamine use in this population is concerning and has implications for treatment.

Fostering Trust With a Young Man Experiencing Homelessness and Advanced Cancer

Persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) face countless barriers to equitable health, social, and palliative care across all settings. Brandon was a 23-year-old male, well-spoken, groomed, and polite despite difficult circumstances. He was severely abused then abandoned as a child, living in multiple foster homes until 18. With no consistent caring adult figure, he predictably fell into a chaotic lifestyle, had 3 children by different mothers, and became homeless in New York City. He presented with newly diagnosed renal cell carcinoma metastatic to lung, lymph nodes, and bone. Spine and pelvic metastases caused paralyzing somatic pain that interfered with walking and sitting and prevented Brandon from performing the activities of daily living essential for his survival on the streets and safekeeping of opioids. Lack of basic social support and a history of multiple abandonments made a care plan for this young, homeless, and truly isolated man very challenging. The inpatient and outpatient interdisciplinary team members partnering with Brandon each earned his trust with time. A "safe place" opened hearts on all sides of the therapeutic relationship and led to a plan that was acceptable for both the patient and the palliative care team. Clinicians are often challenged to provide sustained and pragmatic palliative care services for PEH due to complex barriers. Continued advocacy for equitable and tailored services that ensure high-quality palliative care for PEH is critical at individual, institutional, and system levels to promote health equity and dignified care.

A randomized trial of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons with high use of publicly funded services

Objective

To examine whether randomization to permanent supportive housing (PSH) versus usual care reduces the use of acute health care and other services among chronically homeless high users of county‐funded services.

Data Sources

Between 2015 and 2019, we assessed service use from Santa Clara County, CA, administrative claims data for all county‐funded health care, jail and shelter, and mortality.

Study Design

We conducted a randomized controlled trial among chronically homeless high users of multiple systems. We compared postrandomization outcomes from county‐funded systems using multivariate regression analysis.

Data Collection

We extracted encounter data from an integrated database capturing health care at county‐funded facilities, shelter and jails, county housing placement, and death certificates.

Principal Findings

We enrolled 423 participants (199 intervention; 224 control). Eighty‐six percent of those randomized to PSH received housing compared with 36 percent in usual care. On average, the 169 individuals housed by the PSH intervention have remained housed for 28.8 months (92.9 percent of the study follow‐up period). Intervention group members had lower rates of psychiatric ED visits IRR 0.62; 95% CI [0.43, 0.91] and shelter days IRR 0.30; 95% CI [0.17, 0.53], and higher rates of ambulatory mental health services use IRR 1.84; 95% CI [1.43, 2.37] compared to controls. We found no differences in total ED or inpatient use, or jail. Seventy (37 treatment; 33 control) participants died.

Conclusions

The intervention placed and retained frequent user, chronically homeless individuals in housing. It decreased psychiatric ED visits and shelter use, and increased outpatient mental health care, but not medical ED visits or hospitalizations. Limitations included more than one‐third of usual care participants received another form of subsidized housing, potentially biasing results to the null, and loss of power due to high death rates. PSH can house high‐risk individuals and reduce emergent psychiatric services and shelter use. Reductions in hospitalizations may be more difficult to realize.