Listening to Consumer Perspectives to Inform Addictions and Housing-Related Practice and Research.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Community Psychology

Background:

• The HEARTH collaborative (Housing, Employment and Recovery Together for Health) was established in 2010 as a community-academic partnership.
• Partners include Portland State University (PSU), Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), and Central City Concern (CCC).
• The study utilized community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to ensure relevance to the local community and national stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather personal experiences with housing, employment, and recovery programs from individuals with lived experience.
• To incorporate consumer perspectives into the development, data collection, and analysis of research.
• To identify recommendations for practice and research protocols based on participant feedback.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methods were employed.
• Community-based participatory research principles guided the study.
• Interviews were conducted with participants recruited through Central City Concern (CCC)-operated housing programs, including Alcohol and Drug Free Community Housing (ADFC) and transitional housing.

Main Results:

• Interview themes were categorized into housing, employment programs, recovery programs, definitions of recovery, and definitions of success.
• Findings underscore the critical role of consumer involvement in research processes.
• The study captured unique perspectives from individuals experiencing homelessness and recovery.

Conclusions:

• Involving consumers in research is vital for developing effective housing, employment, and recovery programs.
• Participant insights offer valuable perspectives for improving support services.
• Recommendations for practice and future research protocols were developed based on the findings.