Moving on trial: COVID-19 and homelessness

INTERVENTION: This research will pursue a unique time limited opportunity to conduct a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of permanent housing on the risk of COVID‐19 infection and housing stability for people experiencing homelessness. Up to 1,200 single homeless people who have been temporarily accommodated by six local authorities in England will be recruited. The study population will be representative of all single person households who have approached local authorities for homelessness assistance. This population group is typically dominated by males, aged 25‐49. Participants will be randomised to either the intervention, which includes several different types of settled housing: Private Rented Sector (PRS) (low and medium support), Social Housing (low and medium support), and Housing First (High support), or the comparator, which is Business as usual (BAU) accommodation provided by local authorities (LA) (e.g. hostels). Randomisation willl occur after informed consent and completion of the baseline questionnaire on Qualtrics. Randomisation will be completed daily and results communicated to the participating LAs, ensuring a timely allocation of housing to applicants and a reduction in the likelihood of cross over. Randomisation will be on a 1:1 ratio and will employ a stratified (by LA) block design. These participants will be interviewed up to 4 times across a 12 month period. They will be interviewed over the telephone using an existing survey used to explore the lives of rough sleepers by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in England, which has been adapted appropriately, specifically for the trial. The trial will use an offline Qualtrics CONDITION: COVID‐19 and homelessness ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Prevalence of COVID‐19 infection at 12 months using self‐report; 2. Housing stability (number of days in settled accommodation and housing retention) at 12 months using self‐report; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Single person households temporarily accommodated by the local authority 2. Recourse to public funds SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; Assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 ‐month follow‐up:; 1. General health measured using EQ‐5D; 2. Mental health measured using GAD‐7, WEMWBS; 3. Employment status measured using data linkage from DWP; 5. Income measured using data linkage from DWP; 6. Drug and alcohol (AUDIT C) use measured using NHS Digital; 7. Service access use for mental health measured using NHS Digital; 8. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation/ service use measured using NHS Digital; 9. Healthcare service use measured using NHS Digital; 10. Cost‐effectiveness (including healthcare and mental health service use, and offending) measured using outline by Green Book (HM Treasury, 2018);