Mortality among individuals living in permanent supportive housing: A retrospective cohort study

Individuals experiencing homelessness have excess mortality as compared with the general population. This elevated risk of death may persist after individuals are housed, but there has been scant research on this topic. The objective of this study was to examine mortality among residents of a permanent supportive housing program serving people who were previously homeless.

Deaths were identified among individuals who resided in a 145-unit supportive housing program in Toronto, Canada, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to examine survival.

Of 222 individuals who resided in the supportive housing program, 34 individuals died during the observation period, with 71% of deaths occurring in the housing unit and 21% in hospital. At least one third of deaths were caused by drug overdose. Mean age at death was 56.3 years. Crude mortality rate was 5.10 deaths per 100 person-years of observation. Survival at 5 years of follow-up was 78%, and individuals ≤ 40 years old did not have a survival advantage over those > 40 years old.

Interventions are needed to support health and reduce preventable deaths among formerly homeless residents of permanent supportive housing.