title: Understanding Housing Delays and Relocations Within the Housing First Model.
abstract: This study explores factors contributing to delays and relocations during the implementation of the Housing First model in Toronto, Ontario. While interruptions in housing tenure are expected en route to recovery and housing stability, consumer and service provider views on finding and keeping housing remain largely unknown. In-person interviews and focus groups were conducted with 48 study participants, including 23 case managers or housing workers and 25 consumers. The following three factors contributed to housing delays and transfers: (1) the effectiveness of communication and collaboration among consumers and service providers, (2) consumer-driven preferences and ambivalence, and (3) provider prioritization of consumer choice over immediate housing access. Two strategies--targeted communications and consumer engagement in housing searches--supported the housing process. Several factors affect the timing and stability of housing. Communication between and among providers and consumers, and a shared understanding of consumer choice, can further support choice and recovery.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zerger
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine Francombe
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Pridham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeyagobi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeyaratnam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada.|Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building 6th floor, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Campo
authors.affiliation: Across Boundaries: An Ethno-racial Mental Health Centre, 51 Clarkson Ave, Toronto, ON, M6E 2T5, Canada.
authors.forename: Jaipreet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1N8, Canada. StergiopoulosV@smh.ca.|St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada. StergiopoulosV@smh.ca.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada. StergiopoulosV@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stergiopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009864:Ontario; D055815:Young Adult