Grant: Fellowship - PA - Research & Knowledge Translation on Urban Housing and Health

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has severe physical and mental health consequences, particularly for women and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ), including death, injury, and psychological disorders. Preventing IPV and its impacts requires action from all sectors, not just health, that is responsive to the needs of women and LGBTQ people at risk for experiencing IPV, including, for instance, housing and legal support. Yet little is known about whether and how services across sectors in Canada are coordinated to address the health and wellbeing needs of women and LBGTQ people experiencing IPV and the effectiveness of possible interventions. This mixed-methods project will both build upon existing studies and collect original data to investigate the current service context for women and LGBTQ people experiencing IPV in cities in Ontario and Quebec and identify opportunities for improved service access and coordination. First, I will investigate the responsiveness and coordination of services in addressing IPV and related needs from the perspectives of leaders in the violence against women sector (for instance, agencies supporting women fleeing violence) as well as women who have recently experienced IPV and accessed supportive housing services. Second, I will evaluate the effectiveness of an app intervention in increasing access to services across sectors and improving health and wellbeing among women who have experienced recent IPV attending fracture clinics in Toronto. Finally, informed by these previous phases, I will explore the perspectives of LGBTQ people who recently experienced IPV and accessed supportive housing on service barriers and gaps, the acceptability of the app intervention, and where changes are needed. This project will indicate directions for more effective collaborative action across sectors and interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of high-risk populations experiencing IPV in Canada.