Session Abstract:: Designing and launching At Home/Chez Soi:A multi-site trial of Housing First in five Canadian cities

The four papers in this session will describe key aspects of the planning and implementation of At Home/Chez Soi, a large Canadian experiment with Housing First in five cities. The purpose of the experiment is to influence policy and practice regarding homeless persons with mental illness. Members of the national research team will discuss how the decision to conduct a pragmatic trial of a complex social and health intervention influenced the design, planning and the operations of the project. The project conception began in 2009 and as of summer 2011 all participants will be recruited and randomized with follow-ups underway.

The first paper will describe the overall design and rationale for the demonstration project, focusing upon the common elements that have been implemented in all five cities.

The second paper draws upon extensive qualitative interviews and focus groups held in all of the cities and at the national level to describe the planning and early implementation of the project.

The third paper goes into more detail about the development of the quantitative protocol and some of the process and product innovations made along the way.

The fourth paper focuses on the mixed methods design of the implementation evaluation conducted in the first year of operation for the 13 programs in the project.