title: The health and housing in transition study: a longitudinal study of the health of homeless and vulnerably housed adults in three Canadian cities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While substantial research has demonstrated the poor health status of homeless populations, the health status of vulnerably housed individuals is largely unknown. Furthermore, few longitudinal studies have assessed the impact of housing transitions on health. The health and housing in transition (HHiT) study is a prospective cohort study that aims to track the health and housing status of a representative sample of homeless and vulnerably housed single adults in three Canadian cities (Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver). This paper discusses the HHiT study methodological recruitment strategies and follow-up procedures, including a discussion of the limitations and challenges experienced to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 1,192) were randomly selected at shelters, meal programmes, community health centres, drop-in centres, rooming houses, and single-room occupancy hotels from January to December 2009 and are being re-interviewed every 12 months for a 2-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, over 85% of participants reported having at least one chronic health condition, and over 50% reported being diagnosed with a mental health problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that, regardless of housing status, participants had extremely poor overall health.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada. hwangs@smh.ca
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palepu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Rosane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisenbaum
authors.forename: Anita M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hubley
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klodawsky
authors.forename: Evie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gogosis
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pidlubny
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dowbor
authors.forename: Catharine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*