At a glance
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Transitioning Youth Out of Homelessness: A Mixed Methods Community-Based Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Rent Subsidy and Mentoring Intervention in Three Canadian Cities
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Mentorship and Rent Subsidies for Homeless Persons. Completed, enrolled 24 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Compared to the vast amount of literature about the risk factors associated with young people entering and becoming entrenched in homelessness, much less is known about how to facilitate and sustain transitions off the streets. Current evidence indicates that while structural supports such as subsidized housing and social service providers are important, these things alone are insufficient to help young people integrate into mainstream society. Connecting these young people with an adult who exhibits the relationship-based components of mentoring that young people value most (e.g., genuine interest in their well-being and belief in their ability to succeed, a non-judgmental attitude and a willingness to listen, the provision of advice, guidance, affirmation and encouragement) may be key to helping them move forward and integrate into the mainstream. This intervention will provide 24 young people (ages 18-26) who have transitioned out of homelessness and into market rent housing within the past year with rent subsidies for 24 months. Half of the young people will be randomized to receive regular mentorship from an adult mentor, tasked with helping their mentee bridge the gap between homelessness and mainstream living. It is hypothesized that, for the primary outcome measures of community integration and self-esteem: 1\. Better mean scores (community integration and self-esteem) in the participants who receive rent subsidies plus mentorship (intervention group) will be observed compared to the participants who receive rent subsidies only (control group) by the primary endpoint of 18 months of study participation. It is hypothesized that, for the secondary outcome measures of social connectedness, hope, and academic and vocational participation: 1. Better mean scores (social connectedness and hope) in the intervention group relative to participants in the control group will be observed by 18 months of study participation. 2. Participants in the intervention group will be more likely than the control group to demonstrate sustained engagement in academic and vocational activities (education, employment, and/or skills training) by 18 months of study participation. This pilot will be the first to test the impact of economic and social supports on meaningful social integration for formerly homeless young people living in market rent housing.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
The mentors will be encouraged to incorporate the key relationship-based components of natural mentors (e.g., a 'coach' or 'cheerleader' role) to assist with mainstream integration. The mentors will have more flexibility than a typical formal mentorship program in the types of activities they pursue with their mentees. They will not be mandated to attend shelter-based social events, but rather engage in activities that direct their mentees away from the shelter system (and their old identities as homeless youth) and toward the mainstream (e.g., meeting for coffee at a local university campus). All of the mentors will meet monthly with their mentees for two years. In addition, the mentor will be encouraged to touch base with their mentee via phone or text message every week. If a mentor is unable to continue their role and there are at least six months left in the study, the study participant will be matched with a new mentor.
Participants will receive rent subsidies ($500 for those living in Toronto, $400 for those living in Hamilton or St. Catherine's due to differences in cost of living) for 24 months.