Supporting Social & Economic Equity, Disrupting Cycles of Homelessness, And Nurturing Growth & Empowerment (SEED CHANGE): A Mixed Methods Quasi-experimental Trial of Economic, Social, and Identity Capital Supports for Youth Transitioning Out of Homelessness in Ontario, Canada
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Unity Health Toronto
- Enrollment
- 12
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Feasibility and Acceptability: Recruitment, Enrolment, and Dropout Metrics
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of the SEED CHANGE pilot study is to co-design and test a wraparound intervention for young people transitioning away from homelessness. This study will provide information about the types of supports these young people need to live meaningful and thriving lives, and the best ways to deliver these supports. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Is the wraparound intervention feasible? (i.e., Will young people engage in the study and supports?)
- Is the wraparound intervention acceptable? (i.e., Do young people find the supports satisfactory and/or beneficial?)
Participants will engage in an 18-month wraparound intervention including the following supports:
- Job Placement
- Housing Stabilization Funds
- Grocery Supplements
- Community Connections Worker
- Coaching
- Tools for Intentional Living Program
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 24 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged 18 - 24 years
- •Experienced homelessness (defined as unstable/time-limited housing arrangements like shelter stays, foster care, or couch surfing) for at least four consecutive weeks in the past year
- •Living in market rent housing (defined as non-subsidized housing, inclusive of both formal and informal rental agreements) in the Greater Toronto Area or Niagara Region for at least one month preceding study start
- •Willing to actively participate in all components of the intervention
- •Able to legally work in Canada (includes having a valid Social Insurance Number)
- •Able to provide free and informed consent
- •Able to understand English well enough to give consent and participate in the intervention and data collection
Exclusion Criteria
- •In imminent danger of losing their housing (e.g., facing eviction)
- •Planning to move out of the Greater Toronto Area or Niagara Region in the next 18 months
- •Employed full-time or enrolled in an education or training program that requires a long-term (>4 weeks) full-time work placement (coinciding with the duration of the study intervention)
- •Receiving rent subsidies (does not include shelter allowance through social welfare programs such as Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program)
- •Enrolled in a program or study with features similar to the SEED CHANGE intervention (e.g., 1:1 coaching, supported employment, group program targeting identity/social capital)
Arms & Interventions
Wraparound Intervention
Young people transitioning away from homelessness will engage in an 18-month wraparound intervention including the following supports:
- Job Placement
- Housing Stabilization Funds
- Grocery Supplements
- Community Connections Worker
- Coaching
- Tools for Intentional Living Program
Intervention: Wraparound Intervention (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Feasibility and Acceptability: Recruitment, Enrolment, and Dropout Metrics
Time Frame: Recruitment and enrolment metrics are assessed at T0 (Baseline; pre-intervention). Dropout metrics are assessed at T4 (Month 18; end of intervention).
Recruitment, enrolment, and dropout metrics were documented by the research team. The recruitment total is the total number of individuals who express interest in participating in the study. The enrolment total is the total number of recruited individuals who are eligible and consent to participate in the study. The dropout total is the total number of enrolled participants who drop out during the study. Participants are considered to have dropped out of the study if they explicitly request to withdraw from the study, or cease participating in all intervention and research activities (i.e., no contact).
Feasibility and Acceptability: Employment Placement Engagement
Time Frame: Assessed at T4 (Month 18; end of intervention).
Employment placement engagement is defined as the length of time participants remain in their job placement (self-reported).
Feasibility and Acceptability: Coaching Engagement
Time Frame: Assessed at T4 (Month 18; end of intervention).
Coaching Engagement is defined as the proportion of total possible coaching sessions (max. 36) that a participant attends (reported by coaches).
Feasibility and Acceptability: Group Program Engagement
Time Frame: Assessed at T4 (Month 18; end of intervention).
Group Program Engagement is defined as the proportion of total possible Tools for Intentional Living program sessions that a participant attends (reported by program facilitators).
Feasibility and Acceptability: Community Connections Worker Engagement
Time Frame: Assessed at T4 (Month 18; end of intervention).
Community Connections Worker Engagement is defined as the total number of sessions a participant attends with their Community Connections Worker (reported by workers).
Economic Capital: Food Insecurity
Time Frame: Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).
Food insecurity is self-reported; participants are asked three yes/no questions about their food insecurity in the past six months. A participant is deemed food insecure if they answer affirmative to one or more of the questions. The questions are: Did you ever worry that your food would run out before you had money to buy more? Did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because you did not have enough money for food? Were you ever hungry but did not eat because you could not afford enough food?
Secondary Outcomes
- Economic Capital: Employment(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Economic Capital: Education(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Economic Capital: Housing Security(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Economic Capital: Income(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Social Capital: Social Connectedness(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Social Capital: Social Support(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Identity Capital: Self-Esteem(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Identity Capital: Hope(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
- Identity Capital: Self-Efficacy(Assessed at T1 (Baseline), T2 (Month 6), T3 (Month 12), and T4 (Month 18).)
Investigators
Naomi Thulien
Investigator
Unity Health Toronto