Housing Vulnerability and Health

A longitudinal study of the health of vulnerably housed and homeless adults in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa **SIGNIFICANCE:** This is the first study to report on longitudinal changes (i.e. changes over time) in the health and housing status of vulnerably housed and homeless people in Canada, and the first to compare their health outcomes. **FOCUS:** This study is tracking the health and housing status of 1,200 vulnerably housed and homeless single adults in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa over a two-year period. We recruited 200 vulnerably housed adults and 200 homeless adults in each city (1,200 total), from shelters, meal programs, single room occupancy hotels, and rooming houses. **WHAT’S NEXT:** In 2009, we completed our first round of interviews with participants. In 2010 and 2011, we’ll conduct follow-up interviews, to see how – and why – participants’ housing and health status have changed. This information will be useful to communities and decision-makers; our goal is to guide the development of effective programs and policies to prevent and end housing vulnerability and homelessness. **WHO’S INVOLVED:** Research partners from the Centre for Research on Inner City Health (St. Michael’s Hospital); Carleton University; Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services (University of Ottawa); Ottawa Inner City Health, Inc; PHS Community Services Society (Vancouver); Royal Ottawa Health Care Group; Street Health (Toronto); and University of British Columbia. HHiT is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.