Homelessness Diversion for Emergency Department Patients Facing Homelessness

Overseen By Vanessa Schick

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Disqualifiers: Conservator, Moving from Texas, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 months

1000 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Homeless diversion (HD) for emergency department patients facing homelessness?

Research shows that providing comprehensive services, including housing, to chronically homeless adults significantly reduces their use of emergency department services. This suggests that efforts to provide housing, a key component of homeless diversion, can lead to decreased emergency department visits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does Treatment-as-usual (TAU) differ from other treatments for homelessness in emergency department patients?

Treatment-as-usual (TAU) for homelessness in emergency department patients typically involves standard care practices without specific interventions aimed at preventing homelessness. This approach may not include proactive measures to address housing instability, unlike some newer strategies that focus on early intervention to prevent homelessness before it occurs. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a homelessness diversion program integrated into a hospital emergency department (ED) will lower ED use, to identify characteristics of individuals most likely to benefit from homelessness diversion and to discover opportunities to tailor Homelessness Diversion (HD) services to better meet the needs of diverse communities.

Research Team

Jack Tsai, PhD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English or Spanish speakers discharged from a Harris Health Hospital ED who are at imminent risk of homelessness and have Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance. It's not for those with a legal guardian or plans to leave Texas within 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria

Discharged from a Harris Health Hospital ED (Ben Taub or LBJ)

At imminent risk of homelessness

Patients with Medicaid, Medicare or who are uninsured

Exclusion Criteria

Plans to move away from Texas in 6 months

Having a conservator (legal guardian)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive homelessness diversion services integrated into the emergency department

6 months

Monthly visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health-related quality of life

6 months

Monthly assessments

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Homeless diversion (HD)
• Treatment-as-usual (TAU)

Trial Overview The study is testing if integrating Homelessness Diversion (HD) services into the emergency department discharge process can reduce future ED visits. It compares HD support against the usual treatment patients receive when leaving the hospital.

Participant Groups

Group I: Homeless diversion (HD) group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Treatment-as-usual (TAU) group Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Status of Emergency Department Seventy-Two Hour Return Visits Among Homeless Patients. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Homeless Shelter Entry in the Year After an Emergency Department Visit: Results From a Linked Data Analysis. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emergency Care for Homeless Patients: A French Multicenter Cohort Study. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emergency department outcomes for patients experiencing homelessness in England: retrospective cross-sectional study. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comprehensive services delivery and emergency department use among chronically homeless adults. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"It Wasn't Just One Thing": A Qualitative Study of Newly Homeless Emergency Department Patients. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Homelessness: patterns of emergency department use and risk factors for re-presentation. [2022]