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Review
. 2023 Sep 30;18(1):58.
doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00413-x.

Lessons learned from housing first, rapid rehousing trials with youth experiencing homelessness

Natasha Slesnick  1 , Brittany Brakenhoff  2 , Alicia Bunger  3 , Laura Chavez  4 , Caleb Cuthbertson  2 , Ruri Famelia  2 , Xin Feng  2 , Maggie Fitzpatrick  5 , Jodi Ford  5 , Irene Hatsu  2 , Eugene Holowacz  2 , Soren Jaderlund  2 , Kelly Kelleher  4 , Ellison Luthy  2 , Allen Mallory  2 , Jared Martin  2 , Alexis Pizzulo  2 , Steven Stone-Sabali  2 , Tansel Yilmazer  2 , Qiong Wu  6 , Jing Zhang  7
Affiliations
Review

Lessons learned from housing first, rapid rehousing trials with youth experiencing homelessness

Natasha Slesnick et al. Addict Sci Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Youth, 18 to 24 years, experiencing homelessness (YEH) are recognized as having developmental challenges dissimilar to older adults. Yet, research on efforts to end homelessness and prevent or intervene in drug use and mental health problems among youth have lagged behind that of adults. The Housing First (HF) Model which underlies Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) has become preferred over treatment-first models.

Methods and results: We provide an overview of PSH and RRH studies to date and summarize our current understanding of their utility for use with YEH. Finally, we review our team's current and past randomized trials testing RRH with YEH, providing lessons learned and recommendations.

Conclusion: Current research efforts to guide best practices are hampered by a lack of fidelity to HF principles, lack of randomized design, and lack of focus on youth. Lessons learned and recommendations from our work are offered to facilitate the future work of those who seek to end homelessness and address drug use and mental health problems among youth.

Keywords: Housing first; Interventions; Lessons learned; Rapid re-housing; Youth homelessness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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