Grant: Operating Grant - HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General

The knowledge gained from recent HIV, housing and health research initiatives has the potential to change the housing landscape for people living with HIV and AIDS (and communities at risk), and improve their health and reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Positive Spaces, Healthy Places, funded by CIHR, is the first longitudinal community-based research initiative in Canada to examine housing, health and HIV. As part of our original CIHR study, we recruited and followed more than 600 people living with HIV over the course of 1 year to assess their housing status and the impact of housing instability on health and health-related quality of life. Our main findings so far demonstrate that participants face significant housing instability, considerable disadvantages in housing opportunities and support services, and substantial financial risks and discrimination that varied by geographical region. These findings also reinforce the notion that a number of preventable determinants of health are increasing the health risks of People with HIV while negatively affecting access to care. For Phase IV, we will collect ongoing quantitative data in a longitudinal, province-wide study design in which people living with HIV will be followed for up to 3 additional years. Changes in housing status will be observed, along with factors that play a role in these changes (e.g., social determinants of health, access to health services) and health outcomes and survival resulting from these changes. Our project team has already developed strategic partnerships with HIV service providers, housing providers and policy makers within and outside Ontario, and has had considerable success in KTE. With these partnerships and policy, program and community links, we are well positioned to ensure that our community-based research work can inform housing policies and programs that may lead to improved health outcomes and health-related quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.