Research indicates that individuals experiencing homelessness and those who were recently housed following homelessness (housed within 1-21 months) experience higher levels of boredom, decreased meaningful activity, and lower community belonging, compared to people who have been housed. Higher reported boredom can lead to increased drug use and hopelessness, as well as lower mental well-being.

The research team in the Office of Research and Innovation at St. Clair College successfully leveraged seed funding to secure an additional $720,000 through an NSERC Social Innovation grant. This funding will help create sustainable solutions that address youth homelessness and expand access to healthy school nutrition. Read the full article.

Seed project impact: The proposed research project would use storytelling and personal narratives to help uncover meaning and identify opportunities to increase meaningful activity among a population of people experiencing chronic homelessness and/or those recently housed through Windsor-Essex Housing Connections, the local Housing First strategy.