Grant: Project Grant

The problem of youth homelessness affects millions internationally and has major impacts from social to individual levels. The outcomes of these challenges are readily apparent in the high rates of distress, declining health, and loss of life amongst homeless youth populations. Addressing youth needs only during the crisis of homelessness is not sufficient. Providing housing in and of itself is not sufficient. There is increasing recognition of the need for well-timed, sequenced, and combined interventions - with a focus on preventing pathways into homelessness and supporting sustained exits from homelessness. This study examines an intervention that supports youth in their transition out of homelessness. The intervention involves the provision of transitional case management, peer and mental health supports to youth who have recently exited homelessness - provided for a period of 1 year in this critical time. The study is a randomized trial comparing the transitional support intervention as it compares with treatment as usual to determine if youth receiving the intervention have better outcomes with respect to sustaining housing and making gains in other important life domains. It is work that builds upon feasibility studies that have suggested that the intervention has the potential to make a difference and is well-received by youth and youth service providers. This work holds the potential to make a substantive contribution to a field in need of evidence-based interventions and to be a part of the larger systemic effort to ultimately prevent youth homelessness altogether.