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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Jan 11;12(1):e0168745.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168745. eCollection 2017.

A Randomized Trial Examining Housing First in Congregate and Scattered Site Formats

Julian M Somers  1 , Akm Moniruzzaman  1 , Michelle Patterson  1 , Lauren Currie  1 , Stefanie N Rezansoff  1 , Anita Palepu  2 , Karen Fryer  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomized Trial Examining Housing First in Congregate and Scattered Site Formats

Julian M Somers et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: No previous experimental trials have investigated Housing First (HF) in both scattered site (SHF) and congregate (CHF) formats. We hypothesized that CHF and SHF would be associated with a greater percentage of time stably housed as well as superior health and psychosocial outcomes over 24 months compared to treatment as usual (TAU).

Methods: Inclusion criteria were homelessness, mental illness, and high need for support. Participants were randomised to SHF, CHF, or TAU. SHF consisted of market rental apartments with support provided by Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). CHF consisted of a single building with supports equivalent to ACT. TAU included existing services and supports.

Results: Of 800 people screened, 297 were randomly assigned to CHF (107), SHF (90), or TAU (100). The percentage of time in stable housing over 24 months was 26.3% in TAU (reference; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 20.5, 32.0), compared to 74.3% in CHF (95% CI = 69.3, 79.3, p<0.001) and 74.5% in SHF (95% CI = 69.2, 79.7, p<0.001). Secondary outcomes favoured CHF but not SHF compared to TAU.

Conclusion: HF in scattered and congregate formats is capable of achieving housing stability among people experiencing major mental illness and chronic homelessness. Only CHF was associated with improvement on select secondary outcomes.

Registration: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN57595077.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Participant flow through screening, assessment, allocation to study arm, completion of follow-up visits and inclusion in the analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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