COVID-19 and Rough Sleepers: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Models of Housing and Support To Reduce Risks of COVID-19 Infection and Homelessness: Moving On Study, 2020-2022

This trial outlines a unique time limited opportunity to conduct the first ever randomised controlled trial in the UK, to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of randomising participants to Settled Accommodation (SA) or Temporary Accommodation (TA) with the aim of preventing COVID-19 infection and reducing housing instability. The study’s primary objectives were to assess the following: 1. The feasibility of recruiting local authorities and eligible participants to the study. 2. Recruitment rates of participants and retention through 3 months and 6 months post randomisation follow-up data collection. 3. The acceptability of the study and its processes, including randomisation, to single homeless households and local authorities and their willingness to participate in a definitive trial. In addition, the study also aims to assess the following Secondary objectives: 1. Adherence to the study allocation, reach and fidelity (i.e. whether SA is delivered as intended, works as hypothesized, is scalable and sustainable). 2. The feasibility and acceptability of proposed outcome measures for a definitive trial, including resource use and health-related quality of life data, as methods to measure effectiveness of the intervention and to conduct an embedded health economic evaluation within a definitive RCT. 3. The feasibility and acceptability of linkage to routinely collected data within a definitive RCT by assessing whether (a) participants are willing to consent for their data to be linked and (b) personal identifiers can be linked to NHS Digital routine datasets. Quantitative data was collected at baseline and follow-up at 3 and 6 months. 50 participants were invited to complete outcome measures. These participants completed the questionnaire over the telephone with trained members of staff based at the University. Data was entered into Qualtrics application system and used to collect consent and questionnaire response data. The trial explored past and current experiences of homeless individuals in relation to a range of life domains, including; housing, health, adverse life experiences such as imprisonment, and substance misuse. Participants were also invited to take part in qualitative interviews to discuss the acceptability of the study and its processes, including randomisation, and their willingness to participate in a definitive trial. They were also asked about their experience of services and provision. Data from 14 participants and 1 researcher in the Moving On Study was gathered.