Building Bridges to Housing for homeless adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: outcomes of a cross‐sector intervention.

Background: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have high rates of homelessness. This observational study evaluates Bridges to Housing, a cross‐sector intervention offering immediate access to housing and supports to this population in Toronto, Canada. Methods: Twenty‐six participants, enrolled between April 2016 and December 2017, were assessed at baseline, six and 12 months post‐enrolment. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear modelling evaluated quality of life (QOL) and service needs outcomes. Twenty‐one service users and providers participated in semi‐structured interviews between August 2017 and June 2018 to elicit their experiences of the intervention, which were analysed thematically. Results: Twelve months post‐enrolment, 24 participants were successfully housed and reported increased QOL scores (F(2,43) = 13.73, p = <.001) and decreased perceived unmet service needs (Wald χ2(2) = 12.93, p =.002). Individual‐, intervention‐ and system‐level characteristics facilitated housing stability in this population. Conclusions: Cross‐sector approaches can improve outcomes for homeless adults with IDD and may have an important role in supporting this marginalized population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]