Can we Predict Chronic Homelessness?

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Homeless men and women suffer more illness and sooner death compared to housed people. Among the homeless, there is a group that suffers more illness than others. This group is usually homeless for several months, makes up a smaller proportion of homeless people and uses more resources from emergency shelters than other homeless people. Some have asked if a difference in thinking skills explains how people who are homeless for a long time need more help in getting and keeping housing compared to other homeless persons. In this study, thinking skills that help a person plan and make decisions will be screened among those who have been homeless for a long time and those who were homeless for a short time. If there is a difference, then screening may change how future homeless people get the help they need.

Official Title
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A Case-control Study to Determine Whether a Screening Measure of Executive Dysfunction, the Quick EXIT, is Predictive of Chronic Homelessness

Conditions
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Cognitive Impairment

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men and women, greater than or equal to 18 years old, English speaking Group A: currently homeless and/or housed in an emergency shelter or housing facility for chronically homeless individuals ≥ 6 months Group B: not homeless ≥4 times in the last 3 years and currently living in stable housing ≥ 6 months and in the last 3 years, has been homeless ≤ 1 month Exclusion Criteria: At the time of testing, individuals with the following characteristics will be excluded: Altered mental status (determined by Nurse Coordinator through participant response to questions regarding orientation to person, place and season - score of at least 2/3 is considered intact mental status). Present intoxication (determined by Nurse Coordinator through participant evaluation of odour, either alcohol or non-beverage alcohol). Currently violent or aggressive towards testers (determined by Nurse Coordinator)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Group A - chronically homeless<br>Men and women, greater than or equal to age 18 years, English-speaking, who are currently homeless and/or housed in an emergency shelter or housing facility for chronically homeless individuals ≥ 6 months. | |
| Group B - control/formerly homeless<br>Men and women, greater than or equal to 18 years, English-speaking who are not homeless ≥4 times in the last 3 years and currently living in stable housing ≥ 6 months and in the last 3 years, has been homeless ≤ 1 month | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Quick EXIT score |  | Within 2 weeks of recruitment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Colour Trails test score |  | Within 2 weeks of recruitment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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homelessness