Peer Support for Homelessness in the Emergency Department

Peer support workers with lived experience of homelessness will provide advocacy, supportive counselling, assistance with navigating the system, and role-modeling for people experiencing homelessness in emergency departments in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada. Previous research has demonstrated that people experiencing homelessness experience barriers to care and poor health outcomes, including increased risk of dying, and are frequent users of the emergency department for physical and mental health needs. The benefits of peer support have been studied in hospital psychiatric units and with people experiencing homelessness, but no studies have yet explored the potential impact of peer support workers on homelessness in the emergency department. The investigators plan to do a 12-month randomized study of peer support workers compared to usual care in the emergency department, and evaluate outcomes such as physical health, mental health, addictions, and behaviours, as well as cost-effectiveness and changes in how people experiencing homelessness seek health care. The investigators hope that the findings of this study will provide additional knowledge and evidence for future efforts to improve care for people experiencing homelessness.