Homelessness-Related Research Capacities in Alberta: A Comprehensive Environmental Scan 1990-2010

1. Homelessness-Related Research Capacities in Alberta: A Comprehensive Environmental Scan1990-2010 Katharina Kovacs Burns, MSc, MHSA, PhD & Solina Richter, PhD, RN The Road Home Conference Edmonton, Alberta November 15-17, 2010

2. Alberta Homelessness Research Consortium All researchers, government and community participants involved with environmental scan Acknowledgements:

3. Purpose of Study To identify: • Research expertise • Establish the scope of homelessness-related research capacities in Alberta, 1990-2010 • Reveal gaps in knowledge that should be pursued in future research efforts Specific focus on seven cities within Alberta

5. This type of study not been done before in Alberta or Canada!

6. Deliverables for Study • Registry of Alberta Homelessness Researchers • Inventory of Local, National and International Homelessness Networks • List of Researchers and Community/ Government Representatives interested in Alberta Network • Annotated Bibliography of Published Literature, 1990 – 2010 • Annotated Bibliography of Grey Literature – Reports, papers, other from 1990 – 2010 • Gaps & Challenges in Homelessness Research

7. Methodology Mixed methods: • Literature searches • Web-based searches • Surveys – researchers (n=29) & government/community (n=107) • Targeted phone calls/interviews

8. Registry of Alberta Researchers Methods used: • Web-based searches • Publication searches Results: • 29 Alberta homelessness researchers • 19 on Calgary Homeless Network • 4 main areas of focus – youth, women, health & service delivery, & homelessness discourse

9. Inventory of Networks Method used: • Internet & web searches • Key/core terms searched • Network = hub=coalition=collaboration • Local, national & international Results: • 70 homelessness-related networks • 8 in Alberta • 23 in Canada • 39 international/global • Diversity of networks by functionality or targeted populations

10. Interest in Alberta Network Method used: • Surveys to researchers & government/ community representatives Results: Interested respondents • 15 of 17 researcher respondents • 29 of 44 government/community respondents

11. Annotated Bibliography – Published Literature Method used: • Peer-reviewed journal searches • Key terms applied Results: • 24 identified articles selected • 10 on homeless youth • 3 on homeless women issues • 3 on discourse of homelessness issues • 8 on health and service delivery • 21 Master’s & PhD studies

12. Annotated Bibliography – Grey Literature Method used: • Chose broad search terms for homelessness research in grey literature • Internet searches • Specific community/agency website searches • Survey question; follow up phone calls Results: • 822 identified; 232 selected & reviewed • 12 theme areas; 2 others

14. Grey Literature Theme Areas • Community Perspectives (8 documents) • Counts/Assessments of People who are Homeless (30) • Facilities & Services (10 documents) • Housing & Homelessness (68 documents) • Immigrants & Homelessness (3 documents) • Planning & Plans to End Homelessness (28) • Prevention of Homelessness (1 document) • Progress & Annual Community Analysis of Homelessness (33) • Referencing Homelessness (19 documents) • Social & General Profiling of Homelessness (11 documents) • Women & Homelessness (2 documents) • Youth Homelessness/Homeless Youth (9 documents)

15. Homelessness Research Gaps & Challenges Method used: • Surveys • Literature analysis • Interviews/phone calls Results: Gaps identified by researchers & Community/government were similar Literature contained very few gaps and challenges

16. Researcher Gaps & Challenges Identified

17. Gov’t/Community Research Gaps & Challenges Identified

18. Comparing Gaps & Challenges Identified by Researchers and Government/Community

19. Gaps identified in Literature • Best practices in prevention of homelessness • Addressing poverty • Service needs of individuals • Multiple episodes of homelessness • Public perception and attitudes* • Community engagement

20. Some Common Specific Gaps in Research in Alberta: • Evaluation of effectiveness of ‘Housing First’ model • Lack of data on homelessness generally • Cost of homelessness unknown • Rural studies lacking • Lack information on targeted populations – e.g. youth, families, Aboriginal people, women • Community strategies around implementation of plans to end homelessness

21. Suggestions to Address Research Gaps & Challenges • Researcher capacity development • Research capacity development/understanding within communities & government → Community-Based Participatory Research • More interdisciplinary & cross-sectoral homelessness research • Alberta Homelessness Research Agenda • Stress information sharing, dissemination & Knowledge Transfer • Evaluation of impact of programs, services & plans • Set up Forums for sharing of research data • Publish studies from grey reports

23. Some next steps • Consortium to work with key stakeholders in homelessness research • Use of findings/results of environmental scan for planning future research • Publish, present or make public the results of environmental scan • Populate website of Consortium with information from environmental scan & other studies

24. Thank You!

25. Contact information: Katharina Kovacs Burns, MSc, MHSA, PhD Consultant on Environmental Scan, Director, Interdisciplinary Health Research Academy, & Associate Director Health Sciences Council University of Alberta 300 Campus Tower Ph. 780-492-7766 Email: kathy.kovacsburns@ualberta.ca