Supporting Efforts by Intellectually Disabled Adults to Exit Homelessness: Key Ingredients of a Cross-Sector Partnership

Psychiatr Serv. 2020 Jan 1;71(1):96-99. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800590. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Abstract

This column describes the development of a partnership between health care, housing, and intellectual disability services to support efforts by homeless adults with intellectual disabilities to exit homelessness. Applying a Housing First approach and philosophy, the partners launched a pilot intervention, which at its first phase engaged 26 homeless adults with intellectual disabilities in Toronto. This cross-sector service model was acceptable to service users, who reported positive experiences and good program engagement. Key enablers of success included the program's capacity to address complexity, stakeholders' approach to choice and compromise, and fulsome collaboration and communication at every level.

Keywords: Homelessness; Housing First; Learning disability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Case Management / standards
  • Community Integration*
  • Female
  • Housing*
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / psychology*
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology*
  • Male
  • Ontario
  • Program Evaluation