Grant: Team Gr.: Strengt. Health Workforce for System Transf.:Public Health Workforce

In Toronto, people experiencing homelessness (PEH) have a hard time getting public health care. It is often hard for PEH to get the health services they need because they are isolated, experience stigma, and often do not trust providers. Peers have a deep understanding of local needs and promote better health behaviours, improve overall health, and make it easier for communities to access health services. The project will work with peer workers who have experienced homelessness themselves to deliver health services to PEH in Toronto including vaccines, tests for infections, harm reduction supplies, helping to quit smoking, extreme weather response, and housing supports. This project explores if peer workers can make things easier for providers and better the health of PEH, The project will also see if peer workers change the quality, cost, and satisfaction of care for PEH in Toronto. The project will track of the number of services provided to PEH by peer workers and will survey PEH and providers asking about their satisfaction and experiences. This research will help find solutions for shortages of workers in health care and will show that peer workers are a good way to make the health care system stronger. The findings from the project can help grow other programs of peer workers. Researchers will partner with Inner City Health Associates (ICHA), Canada's largest health service provider for PEH. Peer workers and other people who will use the information gathered by the project will be on the project team, to make sure findings are useful for those most affected by homelessness. Project findings will better PEH-led research, promote access to public health services for all, and lessen the amount of work for health care providers.