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Homelessness-Related Research Capacities in Alberta:

A Comprehensive Environmental Scan

1990-2010

Katharina Kovacs Burns, MSc, MHSA, PhD

& Solina Richter, PhD, RNThe Road Home Conference

Edmonton, AlbertaNovember 15-17, 2010

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Acknowledgements:

Alberta Homelessness Research Consortium

All researchers, government and community participants involved with environmental scan

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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

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

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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

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Methodology

Mixed methods: Literature searches Web-based searches Surveys – researchers (n=29) &

government/community (n=107) Targeted phone calls/interviews

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Registry of Alberta Researchers

Methods used: Web-based searches Publication searchesResults: 29 Alberta homelessness researchers 19 on Calgary Homeless Network 4 main areas of focus – youth, women,

health & service delivery, & homelessness discourse

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Inventory of NetworksMethod used: Internet & web searches Key/core terms searched Network = hub=coalition=collaboration Local, national & internationalResults: 70 homelessness-related networks

8 in Alberta 23 in Canada 39 international/global

Diversity of networks by functionality or targeted populations

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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

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Annotated Bibliography – Published Literature

Method used: Peer-reviewed journal searches Key terms appliedResults: 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

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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 callsResults: 822 identified; 232 selected & reviewed 12 theme areas; 2 others

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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)

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Homelessness Research Gaps & Challenges

Method used: Surveys Literature analysis Interviews/phone callsResults:Gaps identified by researchers &

Community/government were similarLiterature contained very few gaps and

challenges

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Researcher Gaps & Challenges Identified

Research Gaps Research Challenges

Intervention Effectiveness

Coordination of Research Elements

Rural Homelessness Data & InformationSpecific Populations

Accessing Services

Rural Homelessness

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Gov’t/Community Research Gaps & Challenges Identified

Research Gaps Research Challenges

Intervention Effectiveness

Data & information Data & InformationSpecific Populations

Accessing Services

Coordination of Research Elements

Coordination of Research Elements

Public Perception

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Comparing Gaps & Challenges Identified by Researchers and

Government/Community

Researchers Gov’t/Community

Intervention Effectiveness

Yes Yes

Data & information Yes YesSpecific Populations

Yes Yes

Rural Homelessness

Yes No

Accessing Services Yes NoInclusion of Homeless

Yes No

Coordination of Research Elements

Yes Yes

Public Perception No Yes

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Thank You!

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Contact information:

Katharina Kovacs Burns, MSc, MHSA, PhDConsultant on Environmental Scan,

Director, Interdisciplinary Health Research Academy,

& Associate DirectorHealth Sciences Council

University of Alberta300 Campus TowerPh. 780-492-7766

Email: kathy.kovacsburns@ualberta.ca