Our book, published in 2025, is meant to guide practice, research, and policy in homelessness prevention. It is also meant to provide a text for courses in universities and workshops designed for homelessness prevention. Book Bridging the Transition to Housing: A Homelessness Prevention Framework 2025 (Routledge) A book designed to inform practice, policy, and research for homelessness prevention Featuring the work of leading international scholars in homelessness prevention From the Publisher's Website: This book presents a detailed exploration of the Bridging the Transition framework, an approach designed to guide practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and advocates on strategies for preventing and ending homelessness. Table of Contents: Section 1: Function and Participation in Daily Activities as a Key Homelessness Prevention Strategy Chapter 1. Introduction to the origins and components of the Bridging the Transition Framework Chapter 2. Function and participation in daily life activities as a key component of research and practice in homelessness prevention Chapter 3. Social Inclusion and its Relevance to Homelessness Prevention & Transitioning out of Homelessness Section 2: the Bridging the Transition Framework and its Various Components Chapter 4. Relationship as Foundation Chapter 5. The “Four Processes” of Leaving Homelessness Chapter 6. Individual Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life Chapter 7. Community-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life Chapter 8. Population-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life Chapter 9. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Social Justice Chapter 10. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Housing First Chapter 11. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Recovery Chapter 12. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Harm Reduction Chapter 13. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care Chapter 14. Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Intersectionality Section 3: Application of the Bridging the Transition Framework Chapter 15. Applying the Bridging the Transition Framework: Individual Level Approaches Chapter 16. Applying the Bridging the Transition Framework: Community Level Approaches Chapter 17. Applying the Bridging the Transition Framework: Population Level Approaches Section 4: Key social locations related to homelessness prevention Chapter 18. Key Social Locations Relevant to Homelessness Prevention: A Structural and Systems Lens on Preventing Homelessness among Women and Gender-Diverse People in the Global North Chapter 19. Key Social Locations Relevant to Homelessness Prevention: Homelessness Among 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons Chapter 20. Key Social Locations Relevant to Homelessness Prevention: Homelessness Among Racialized Persons Chapter 21. Key Social Locations Relevant to Homelessness Prevention: Homelessness Among Youth Chapter 22. Key Social Locations Relevant to Homelessness Prevention: Global South Perspectives Find out more HERE

The strategies we advance in promoting homelessness prevention following homelessness are designed for promoting function and participation in daily life during and following homelessness. These strategies include: 1) Performance in meaningful activity; 2) Engagement in meaningful activity; and 3) Use of activity for well-being. Strategies In the Bridging the Transition Framework, we discuss three strategies that can support function and participation in daily life across the "Four Processes." These strategies promote: Performance in meaningful activity Engagement in meaningful activity Use of activity for well-being Performance in Meaningful Activity By "Performance in Meaningful Activity," we mean strategies that help to improve function in daily life. These strategies are used across the "Four Processes " and are designed to prevent ongoing homelessness among individuals who have been unhoused on an episodic or chronic basis. During the "Survival Process" (i.e. while a person is unhoused), strategies designed to promote performance in meaningful Activity" may include helping a person helping a person to secure housing, and finding funding that will enable them to afford an apartment. During the "Adaptation Process" (i.e. soon after a person is housed), strategies for promoting "Performance in Meaningful Activity" may include helping a person to develop a routine for making sure their apartment remains clean by cleaning their dishes regularly, and developing a washroom cleaning schedule. This can be helpful as individuals who have been living in shelters or encampments may not have performed these activities in a long time. During the "Integration Process" (i.e. after a person has been housed for longer), strategies designed to promote performance in meaningful activity may include supporting a person to perform more effectively in their employment or volunteer role. During the "Precarity Process" (i.e. when a person is at imminent risk of losing their housing), performance in meaningful activity may include helping the person to navigate the laws in their jurisdiction to avoid losing their tenancy or acquiring the resources needed to avoid tenancy loss. Anchor 1 Anchor 2 Engagement in Meaningful Activity By "Engagement in Meaningful Activity," we refer to strategies that help individuals to participate in activities that are meaningful particularly those in which barriers to participation are present. For some, this may mean remembering what activities are meaningful for them. For others, this may mean discovering new meaningful activities. Similar to strategies for improving performance in meaningful activity, strategies for improving engagement in meaningful activity can be used across the " Four Processes ." During the "Survival Process" (i.e. while a person is unhoused), strategies for promoting engagement in meaningful activity may include helping a person to locate places in the community where they can participate in meaningful activity such as peer support centres, community centres, and group events that are no or low cost. During the "Adaptation Process" (i.e. soon after a person is housed), strategies for engagement in meaningful activity may include helping a person to remember what activities they may find meaningful following homelessness, and in what activities they can participate given available resources. During the "Integration Process" (i.e. after a person has been housed for longer), we may help a person to engage in a work or volunteer role, or give back to their community by securing resources that can help people who are currently unhoused. During the "Precarity Process" (i.e. when a person is at imminent risk of losing their housing), we may help a person to engage in self-care activities that help them to cope with the stress of facing a tenancy loss. Anchor 3 Use of Activity for Well-Being By "Use of Activity for Well-Being" we refer to strategies that include providing access to activities that promote well-being. We can offer these strategies with individuals, communities and populations of people who experience homelessness by making activities more accessible. Many people who experience homelessness describe experiencing profound boredom during and following homelessness that causes them to question their own existence, drives substance use, and creates the conditions that allow traumatic memories to resurface [1-3]. This situation erodes the state of a person's mental health, and can be mitigated by helping individuals to occupy their time in ways that are meaningful. Strategies for using activity for well-being can be employed across the "Four Processes ." During the "Survival Process" (i.e. while a person is unhoused), we can offer opportunities that provide access to meaningful activity for people who are unhoused. Such opportunities may include engaging Indigenous communities in the provision of cultural and spiritual activities in the support of Indigenous persons who are unhoused. It may also include holding a card tournament in a shelter setting to provide an opportunity for people who are staying in the shelter to do something that is meaningful, thereby taking their minds off of the stress of homelessness for a period of time. During the "Adaptation Process" (i.e. soon after a person is housed), we can offer opportunities for people who have been recently housed following homelessness to engage in meaningful activities by running groups in the community that are specifically for people who have recently secured a tenancy. Such opportunities could involve securing funding to pay for theatre admission, and inviting people who have recently moved into their own housing following homelessness to meet there to watch a movie together. During the "Integration Process" (i.e. after a person has been housed for longer), we may introduce a person who has been housed following homelessness to a community organization that may be looking for volunteers, or invite them to participate in volunteering to do landscaping at a local community organization that cannot afford to pay for such services. Such opportunities can not only help individuals to engage in their community following homelessness, but they may also help people to build new social networks outside of the unhoused community. During the "Precarity Process" (i.e. when a person is at imminent risk of losing their housing), we may encourage a person who is at risk of losing their housing to go for a walk together, as a strategy to cope with the stress of this experience, and at a time when they may feel unable to go for a walk on their own. We may also invite them to groups that we may be running in the community which engage people in meaningful activities to provide a distraction from the stress that they are currently experiencing, while at the same time that we are supporting the person to employ strategies to avoid a tenancy loss. Function and Participation as Homelessness Prevention To learn more about a functional and participation approach to homelessness prevention, read Chapter 2 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Function and Participation in Daily Life Activities as a Key Component of Research and Practice in Homelessness Prevention . In the video below, persons with lived experiences of homelessness, researchers, and service providers discuss the importance of a functional and participation approach in homelessness prevention. After watching this video, proceed to learning more about the next component of framework - " Level of Intervention " - or go back to learning more about other components of the framework . "Level of Intervention" References Marshall, C. A., Davidson, L., Li, A., Gewurtz, R., Roy, L., Barbic, S., ... & Lysaght, R. (2019). Boredom and meaningful activity in adults experiencing homelessness: A mixed-methods study. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 86(5), 357-370. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417419833402 Marshall, C. A., Cooke, A., Holmes, J., Bengall, J., Aryobi, S., Phillips, B., ... & Gewurtz, R. (2024). “It’s like your days are empty and yet there’s life all around”: A mixed methods, multi-site study exploring boredom during and following homelessness. Plos one, 19(5), e0302900. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302900 Herzog-Fequet, C., Gewurtz, R., Hansen, N., Read, H., & Marshall, C. (2026). What is the perceived relationship between boredom and substance use among persons who are unhoused?. PLOS Mental Health, 3(2), e0000354. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000354 Roy, L. (2025). Function and Participation in Daily Life Activities as a Key Component of Research and Practice in Homelessness Prevention. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 15-26). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003541332-3/function-participation-daily-life-activities-key-component-research-practice-homelessness-prevention-laurence-roy

The Bridging the Transition Framework is a framework designed to guide practice, research, and policy in homelessness prevention. It includes a range of different components including: 1) Relationship as Foundation; 2) The Four Processes of leaving homelessness; 3) Strategies; 4) Level of Intervention; and 5) The 6 Guiding Principles. Components of the Bridging the Transition Framework The Bridging the Transition Framework is comprised of a range of different components designed to guide practitioners, researchers and policymakers in efforts designed for homelessness prevention . What do we mean by "function" and "participation" in the lives of individuals who experience homelessness? The Bridging the Transition Framework is built on a functional and participation perspective on homelessness prevention. That is, the belief that in order to prevent ongoing homelessness among individuals who have been unhoused in the past, there is a need to help individuals who have lost their housing to function and participate optimally in the meaningful activities that they need, want, or are expected to do in their daily lives. By helping people to gain access to and function in the daily life activities that they find meaningful, we can not only prevent ongoing homelessness, but also support individuals to access the resources needed for thriving in their housing following homelessness. Learn more about the Framework by watching the video below, which provides an overview of the Bridging the Transition Framework. Learn about the next part of the framework by clicking on the "Relationship as Foundation" button below. "Relationship as Foundation"

The Bridging the Transition Framework is a framework designed to guide research and practice in homelessness prevention. The framework synthesizes existing research on evidence-informed strategies for preventing homelessness among at risk individuals. This site offers educational resources on the Bridging the Transition Framework, and can provide an important resource for practitioners, researchers, policymakers and advocates. Bridging the Transition to Housing: A Homelessness Prevention Framework Guiding Practice, Research and Policy for Preventing and Ending Homelessness Learn More

The 6 guiding principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework, a frame designed to guide the practice, research and policy in homelessness prevention. The 6 guiding principles include: 1) Housing First; 2) Recovery; 3) Harm Reduction; 4) Social Justice; 5) Intersectionality; and 6) Trauma and Violence-Informed Care. 6 Guiding Principles In using the Bridging the Transition Framework, we encourage the use of 6 Guiding Principles that are supported by practice and research evidence and known to be effective for homelessness prevention. These include: Social Justice Housing First Recovery Harm Reduction Trauma and Violence-Informed Care Intersectionality Social Justice Social justice is an interdisciplinary concept acknowledging the ways in which resources are distributed in society, with an interest in advancing the common well-being of all by seeking to distribute resources in a more equitable manner [1]. Social justice is fundamentally connected with human rights in that it aims to elevate the well-being of materially and socially oppressed groups in society [1]. Homelessness is the direct result of poverty [2], and is an issue for which a social justice lens is particularly useful. Many persons who experience homelessness live in situations of extreme deprivation in countries that have ample resources for all. As health and social care proivders, we have a role in seeking to realize social justice for individuals who experience homelessness through our individual encounters, and through the use of community and population level approaches. Learn more about Social Justice by reading Chapter 9 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Social Justice . For the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of social justice as a perspective in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. Anchor 1 Housing First Housing First (HF) is a person-centred philosophy of practice which emphasizes that individuals are housing ready from the moment that they are born, and do not need to prove their ability to be “housing ready” prior to being offered permanent housing [3]. HF emerged out of criticisms of the “treatment first” or “staircase model” approach, which emphasized the treatment of mental health and substance use challenges before an individual could be regarded as “housing ready.” These “treatment first” approaches emphasized the use of shelters and transitional housing, and are often seen as inhumane because they prolong homelessness for individuals who already live with multiple health and social challenges. Practitioners, researchers policymakers and advocates using this framework should emphasize the primacy of permanent housing in their support of persons experiencing homelessness over encouraging “housing readiness." Learn more about Housing First by reading Chapter 10 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Housing First . For the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of Housing First as an approach in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. Anchor 2 Recovery Rates of mental illness, trauma, and substance use disorders are known to be high in the homeless population [4]. The recovery model posits that a person living with mental illness and/or substance use disorder can create a life of personal meaning in the face of challenges imposed by a diagnosis [5, 6]. Many individuals living with mental illness, trauma, and substance use difficulties experience symptoms episodically or chronically, meaning that they live with these challenges to a greater or lesser degree in the long term. Adopting a recovery-oriented approach to practice is particularly important given that individuals may become homeless in part due to functional challenges associated with mental illness, and these challenges are likely to persist across the trajectory of homeless to housed. Learn more about the recovery model by reading Chapter 11 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Recovery . For the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of the recovery model in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. Anchor 3 Harm Reduction Harm reduction is a philosophy which emphasizes the safety of individuals engaged in activities that have the potential to impose harm such as substance use and sex work [7,8]. Harm reduction approaches encourage the use of a range of practices including the provision of clean and safe tools for administering substances, or by providing condoms and sexual health education. One common misconception is that harm reduction and abstinence approaches are mutually exclusive [9]. Practitioners, researchers, policymakers and advocates should be aware that using a harm reduction philosophy does not preclude supporting individuals with goals related to abstinence or supporting a reduction in behaviours that have the potential to impose harm should a person wish to focus on such goals. Individuals using this framework should employ a harm reduction approach by providing supports aimed at promoting the health and well-being of persons who experience homelessness by encouraging the use of safe strategies. Offering support with abstinence or reducing engagement in a behaviour that palace their health at risk when a service user expresses an interest in such goals is both supportive and person-centred. Such an approach requires the presence of a strong therapeutic alliance, which needs to be developed over time. Abstinence should not be emphasized as a goal if a person does not express an interest in making such a change in their lives, and never as a precondition for accessing services. Learn more about harm reduction by reading Chapter 12 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Harm Reduction . For the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of harm reduction as a perspective in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. Anchor 4 Anchor 5 Trauma & Violence-Informed Care It is widely recognized that individuals who experience homelessness have endured physical, sexual, and emotional trauma both before and during homelessness [4,10,11]. Homelessness itself has been described as a form of trauma in that the denial of the right to housing can be experienced as deep exclusion and abandonment by one’s community. Knowledge that trauma is more prevalent among persons who experience homelessness means that it is necessary to use approaches that acknowledge the presence of this trauma in the delivery of services. When using this framework, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and advocates are encouraged to use a universal precautions approach to trauma. This means that when individual encounter a person with experiences of homelessness, they should assume that the person has experienced trauma and use evidence-based trauma informed approaches in the delivery of services. One such approach is “Trauma and Violence-Informed Care” (TVIC). TVIC builds on “Trauma Informed Care” (TIC) by acknowledging that individuals may experience trauma both from traumatic experiences (i.e. physical and emotional trauma), and also from the structural environments in which they are situated (i.e. being denied the right to resources for survival, poverty) both historically and in the present [12]. TVIC emphasizes minimizing harm associated with trauma, rather than treating the trauma itself [13]. Approaches that minimize the activation of past and present traumatic experiences including person-centred and strengths-based approaches should be employed by individuals who are using this framework. Learn more about TVIC by reading Chapter 13 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Trauma and Violence-Informed Care . For the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of TVIC as a perspective in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. Anchor 6 Intersectionality Intersectionality is an acknowledgement of the ways in which race, gender, ability, sexual orientation andclass intersect to influence social possibilities and health [14]. The fact that persons of colour, men, individuals identifying as LGBTQ2+ , indigenous persons, and individuals living with disabilities are disproportionately represented in statistics on homelessness suggest that these social locations should be accounted for in support services. Often, these social locations layer over one another to create deep degrees of discrimination and health inequities. For example, a racialized woman living with poverty and with mental illness experiences discrimination related to her gender, race, disability, and class. Learn more about TVIC by reading Chapter 14 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Guiding Principles of the Bridging the Transition Framework: Intersectionality . To understand more about the perspectives of service providers, researchers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness on the importance of intersectionality as a perspective in homelessness prevention, watch the video below. All Framework "Components" References Stronks, K., et al. Social justice and human rights as a framework for addressing social determinants of health Final report of the Task group on Equity, Equality and Human Rights. 2016. Retrieved online at: http:// www.euro.who.int/ data/assets/ pdf_file/0006/334356/HR-task-report.pdf ?ua=1 Gaetz, S., et al., The State of Homelessness in Canada 2016. 2016, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press: Toronto. Retrieved online from: https://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/ SOHC16_final_20Oct2016.pdf Tsemberis, S., Housing first: The pathways model to end homelessness for people with mental illness and addiction manual. 2010: Hazelden. Gutwinski, S., Schreiter, S., Deutscher, K., & Fazel, S. (2021). The prevalence of mental disorders among homeless people in high-income countries: An updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. PLoS medicine, 18(8), e1003750. https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003750 Mental Health Commission of Canada, What is Recovery? 2020 [cited 2020 January 26, 2020]; Available from: https://www . mental healthcommission.ca/English/what-we-do/ SAMSHA., Recovery and Recovery Support. 2019 [cited 2020 January 26, 2020]; Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/recovery. Harm Reduction International. What is harm reduction? 2020; Available from: https://www.hri.global/what-is- harm-reduction. Rekart, M.L., Sex-work harm reduction. The Lancet, 2005. 366(9503): p. 2123-2134. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(05)67732-X. Henwood, B.F., D.K. Padgett, and E. Tiderington, Provider views of harm reduction versus abstinence policies within homeless services for dually diagnosed adults. J Behav Health Serv Res, 2014. 41(1): p. 80-9. doi: 10.1007/s11414-013-9318-2 Miller, J. P., O’Reilly, G. M., Mackelprang, J. L., & Mitra, B. (2020). Trauma in adults experiencing homelessness. Injury, 51(4), 897-905. https:// doi. org/10.1016/j.injury.2020.02.086 56. Deck, S. M., & Platt, P. A. (2015). Homelessness is traumatic: Abuse, victimization, and trauma histories of homeless men. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(9), 1022-1043. https:// doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2015.1074134 Wathen, C. N., Schmitt, B., & MacGregor, J. C. (2023). Measuring trauma-(and violence-) informed care: a scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(1), 261-277. DOI: 10.1177/15248380211029399 Government of Canada (2018). Trauma and violence-informed approaches to policy and practice. Retrieved online at: https:// www.canada.ca/en/ public-health/services/ publications/health-risks- safety/trauma-violence-informed-approaches- policy-practice Oexle, N. and P.W. Corrigan, Understanding Mental Illness Stigma Toward Persons With Multiple Stigmatized Conditions: Implications of Intersectionality Theory. Psychiatr Serv, 2018. 69(5): p. 587-589. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201700312

The relationship between practitioners, researchers and policymakers and persons with experiences of homelessness is considered an essential foundation for work on homelessness prevention. Relationship as Foundation In the Bridging the Transition Framework, we highlight the importance of building authentic and trusting relationships with individuals who experience homelessness before employing any strategy for tenancy sustainment or helping a person to address health or social challenges. Individuals who experience or who are at risk of homelessness are much more likely to have received poor treatment in health and social care services in the past [1]. When unhoused people reach out for support, and the people and systems they encounter replicate the problematic dynamics they have experienced in the past, this only reinforces the notion that health and social care providers and the systems in which they work cannot be trusted or relied upon. Previous research exploring transitions to housing following homelessness illustrates the value that individuals who experience homelessness place on their relationships with health and social care providers when these relationships are seen to be positive and supportive [2]. For many, these relationships are viewed as a crucial foundation on which the transition to housing following homelessness can occur [3]. The relationship is not only necessary for direct service providers to build with the individuals who use their services. It is also a necessary first step for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers who are working at community and population levels. For more information about the Relationship as Foundation component of the Bridging the Transition Framework, read Chapter 4: Relationship as Foundation [3] in the Bridging the Transition Book . Perspectives on the Relationship as a Foundation for Homelessness Prevention In the following video, persons with lived experience of homelessness, advocates, service providers, and policymakers provide their perspectives on the importance of the relationship in homelessness prevention efforts. After watching this video, proceed to learning more about the next component of framework - the "Four Processes" - or go back to learning more about other components of the framework. "The Four Processes" References Omerov, P., Craftman, Å. G., Mattsson, E., & Klarare, A. (2020). Homeless persons' experiences of health‐and social care: A systematic integrative review. Health & social care in the community, 28(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12857 Marshall, C. A., Easton, C., Phillips, B., Boland, L., Isard, R., Holmes, J., ... & Oudshoorn, A. (2024). Experiences of transitioning from homelessness: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative studies conducted in middle to high income countries. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 33(1), 28-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2022.2141868 Kerman, N. (2025). Relationship as Foundation. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 43-52). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003541332-6

Resources, including research on the Bridging the Transition Framework, a framework designed for guiding research, practice and policy in homelessness prevention, are offered on this page. This includes links to research conducted to provide a foundation for the Bridging the Transition framework, and copies of the framework graphics in English, French and Spanish. Resources on the Bridging the Transition Framework We are actively engaged in research designed to contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of the Bridging the Transition Framework. We have provided links to our published research below, and will continue to add new papers as they are published. We have also had requests to offer the framework in different languages. We have translated the framework graphic into French and Spanish. Download these resources below. Access Research Access Article Access Article Access Article Access the Framework Graphics Download - English Download - French Download - Spanish

Homelessness prevention includes efforts to prevent a first episode of homelessness, and also ongoing homelessness among individuals who have been unhoused before. The Bridging the Transition Framework focuses on "tertiary" homelessness prevention; that is, homelessness prevention among individuals who have been previously unhoused. What is Homelessness Prevention? When we talk about homelessness prevention, we are not just talking about preventing a first episode of homelessness. We are also referring to preventing future episodes of homelessness among individuals who are currently unhoused, or who have been unhoused several times in the past. Increasingly, people who lose their housing are unhoused for longer and are experiencing more frequent episodes [1,2]. This is happening because of structural changes in our society that have led to increased income inequality and a widening wealth gap that is leaving many struggling to compete in the context of rising inflation that has made daily life unaffordable for many [3]. Homelessness Prevention Frameworks There are a range of frameworks designed to guide homelessness prevention efforts. These frameworks have been primarily informed by a public health perspective, and highlight three different types of prevention: Primary Prevention: Preventing a first episode of homelessness Secondary Prevention: Preventing homelessness among individuals at imminent risk Tertiary Prevention: Preventing homelessness among individuals who have been unhoused before Perhaps the most well-recognized framework is the typology of homelessness prevention advanced by Gaetz, Dej & Schwan [4] (see Figure 1), and built upon by Oudshoorn et al. [5]. This typology describes a range of strategies for preventing homelessness including: Structural Prevention: Shifting policies and legislation to promote social inclusion and equality Systems Prevention: Addressing institutional and systemic problems that lead to homelessness Early Intervention: Approaches aimed at supporting people at imminent risk of losing a tenancy Evictions Prevention: Preventing homelessness among people who are currently housed Housing Stability: Providing person-centred supports to help someone avoid homelessness after it has occurred Empowerment: Offering services that emphasize autonomy and the fundamental need for personal choice Gaetz, Dej & Schwan, 2020 [4] Figure 1. Typology of Homelessness Prevention The Bridging the Transition Framework is focused primarily on Tertiary Prevention. That is, preventing homelessness among individuals who have been unhoused previously, and often several times in the past. To learn more about homelessness prevention, and the origins of the Bridging the Transition Framework, read Chapter 1 in the framework book [6]. Learn About the Framework References Infrastructure Canada (2025). Homelessness data snapshot: Analysis of chronic homelessness among shelter users in Canada 2017 - 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026 at https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/chronic-homelessness-2017-2024-litinerance-chronique-eng.html Soucy, D., Hall, A. & Moses, J. (2025). State of Homelessness: 2025 Edition. National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved May 9, 2026 at https://endhomelessness.org/state-of-homelessness/ Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2025). Retrieved May 9, 2026 at: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/inflation-and-cost-of-living.html Dej, E., Gaetz, S., & Schwan, K. (2020). Turning off the tap: A typology for homelessness prevention. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 41(5), 397-412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-020-00607-y Oudshoorn, A., Dej, E., Parsons, C., & Gaetz, S. (2020). Evolving an evidence‐based model for homelessness prevention. Health & Social Care in the Community, 28(5), 1754-1763. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13000 Marshall, C. A. (2025). Introduction to the Origins and Components of the Bridging the Transition Framework. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 3-14). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003541332-2

The Bridging the Transition Framework is a framework designed to guide practice, research and policy for preventing ongoing homelessness among people who have experienced homelessness previously. We provide an overview of the framework, and incorporate lived expertise, practice, research, and policy perspectives in illustrating various components of the framework. The Bridging the Transition Framework What is the Bridging the Transition Framework? The Bridging the Transition Framework is a framework to guide homelessness prevention and was initially developed to guide the practice and research of a growing number of occupational therapists who were supporting individuals across the trajectory of unhoused to housing. We developed the framework initially in 2018 through funding provided by the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists . In 2022, we were able to secure additional funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to further refine and disseminate this framework. This funding enabled our team to conduct research to provide a foundation for developing the framework, and refine the framework in 2023 and further in 2025. Since the first release of the framework, we have recognized its relevance for a range of professions outside of occupational therapy, and we have since changed the language in the framework, written our book for an interdisciplinary audience, and revised our workshop so that it would be relevant for a range of professions. Learn more about the framework and it's various components using the links below. What is Homelessness Prevention? How the Framework was Developed The Framework and its Components Research on the Framework Bridging the Transition Book

The Bridging the Transition Framework, a framework taking a functional and participation approach to homelessness prevention, was developed through research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. Developing the Bridging the Transition Framework The Bridging the Transition Framework was developed in 2018 after it was identified that there was a need to inform the practice and research of occupational therapists working in the area of homelessness. In response, we developed the Bridging the Transition Framework to draw together knowledge about existing practice, research and policy on homelessness prevention from a functional and participation perspective. That is, acknowledging homelessness as a problem that arises when individuals are denied the right to the necessary structural and service supports that enable function and participation in daily life. Problems in our society such as growing income inequality, a rising wealth gap, and a lack of investment in deeply affordable social housing are the underlying causes of homelessness [1,2]. These structural trends disproportionately affect individuals living with disabilities emerging from mental health, cognitive, and physical health conditions [3]. To inform the initial development of the Bridging the Transition Framework, we conducted three foundational studies. Each of these is presented below: Study 1: Identifying Daily Living Needs From Unhoused to Housing In this first study, we interviewed 36 individuals who were unhoused, housed 1-3 months following homelessness, and 3-24 months following homelessness. We asked participants to describe their daily living needs at these different time frames. Using Sen and Nussbaum's Capabilities Approach, we identified how individuals with experiences of homelessness were able to gain access to activities that supported tenancy sustainment and well-being. To access this article, click on the article image or at the button below. Access the Article Study 2: Developing the Initial Framework In this study, we used our findings from our empirical research presented above to inform a consultation with 17 international occupational therapy researchers and practitioners who were recognized for the depth of their expertise in the area of homelessness. We developed an initial framework, and using a participatory process, we requested the input of these experts on revisions to our draft framework using a confidential online survey. To access the article, click on the article image, or on the button below. Access the Article Study 3: Identifying the Competencies Needed to Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness To identify the competencies needed for occupational therapists to support individuals across the trajectory of unhoused to housing, we conducted a Delphi study. This research was meant to provide guidance to occupational therapists on professional development and to educators on the competencies they may consider incorporating in curricula to prepare occupational therapists in work with individuals during and following homelessness. While this study was designed to inform the field of occupational therapy, it could also be used to guide training and competency development in other fields. Access the article by clicking on the article image or the button below. Access the Article Development of the Framework Since its Initial Inception After developing and refining the framework, we developed a one-day workshop to train occupational therapists in using the Bridging the Transition Framework to inform their research and practice. When we held workshops and when organizations requested that we deliver these workshops, we found that there was interest from a range of health and social care professions. In some of these workshops, more than 90% of the registrants represented other professions. To date, we have delivered the Bridging the Transition Framework workshop with 300-400 individuals representing a range of health and social care professions including occupational therapy, psychotherapy, social work, social service work, child and youth work, peer support, and individuals who are not health and social care providers, but perform an advocacy role in their communities. Participants in our workshops represent practitioners, researchers, policymakers and advocates. The current version of the Bridging the Transition Workshop is a two-day, interactive event that focuses on equipping practitioners, researchers and policymakers with the skills needed to work towards homelessness prevention at individual, community and population levels. If you are interested in a workshop for your own community, you can request one here. Request a Workshop Moving Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach In 2024, we were approached by Routledge to develop a book in the Bridging the Transition Framework. Our experiences in delivering workshops helped our team to recognize that the framework had relevance for a range of professions. For this reason, we decided to broaden the focus of the Bridging the Transition Framework book so that it would be welcoming of a range of health and social care professions interested in taking a functional and participation approach to homelessness prevention. Instead of writing the book for an occupational therapy audience, we retained the focus on function and participation, and wrote the chapters in ways that would ensure their relevance for people from a range of professions. As an edited book, we decided to approach authors from different professional backgrounds to contribute chapters based on their expertise in homelessness prevention. In November, 2025, we published our book entitled Bridging the Transition to Housing: A Homelessness Prevention Framework . This development represents an important turning point in the development of the framework, and one that will enable us to offer our learning beyond the profession of occupational therapy. Bridging the Transition Book Next Steps In the future, our team will continue to refine the Bridging the Transition Framework, and evaluate the ways in which individuals are using the framework to inform their health and social care practice, research and policymaking. Learn About the Framework and its Components To learn more about the Bridging the Transition Framework and its various components, click here or on the image below. References Statistics Canada (2023). Homelessness: How does it happen? https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5170-homelessness-how-does-it-happen Statistics Canada (2026). Distributions of household economic accounts for income, consumption, saving and wealth of Canadian households, fourth quarter 2025. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260413/dq260413a-eng.htm Maybee, J. E. (2020). Homelessness, disability, and oppression. The ethics of homelessness: philosophical perspectives. Leiden: Brill, 357-87. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004420366_025 Marshall, C. A., Gewurtz, R., Ross, C., Becker, A., Cooke, A., Roy, L., ... & Kirsh, B. (2024). Beyond securing a tenancy: Using the capabilities approach to identify the daily living needs of individuals during and following homelessness. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 33(1), 81-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2022.2070098 Marshall, C. A., Cooke, A., Gewurtz, R., Barbic, S., Roy, L., Ross, C., ... & Kirsh, B. (2023). Bridging the transition from homelessness: Developing an occupational therapy framework. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 30(7), 953-969. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2021.1962970 Marshall, C. A., Cooke, A., Gewurtz, R., Barbic, S., Roy, L., Lysaght, R., & Kirsh, B. (2023). Competencies for occupational therapy practice in homelessness: A Delphi study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30(7), 924-938. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11038128.2021.2002404

In the Bridging the Transition Framework, a framework designed for homelessness prevention, we encourage approaches used at individual, community, and population levels. Level of Intervention In the Bridging the Transition Framework, we recognize that homelessness is not a problem that emerges because of the failures of an individual person. Homelessness occurs because of community and structural problems in society including the presence of stigma, growing income inequality, and a widening wealth gap. For these reasons, it is important to support people at the individual level, while still addressing homelessness in a more permanent way that acknowledges the causes of homelessness at community and population levels. Individual Level Interventions Individual level interventions in the Bridging the Transition Framework refer to approaches designed for a specific person, often in relationship with a single health or social care provider. Such interventions are a necessary part of health and social care in the area of homelessness as a person's needs are often highly individual. Learn more about individual approaches to homelessness prevention by reading Chapter 6 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Individual Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life . Watch the video below to hear from persons with lived experiences of homelessness and service providers on the value of interventions focused on homelessness prevention at the individual level. Community Level Interventions Community level interventions involve working across a community to improve function and participation of persons experiencing homelessness thereby preventing homelessness for many people in that community at the same time. Such approaches may include conducting needs assessments, asset-based assessments, and delivering intervention approaches that equip communities with the resources and skills needed to prevent ongoing homelessness for people who are at risk. Learn more about community-level approaches to homelessness prevention by reading Chapter 7 in the Bridging the Transition Book: Community-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life . Watch the video below to hear from persons with lived experiences of homelessness, service providers, and policymakers on the value of interventions focused on homelessness prevention at the community level. Population Level Interventions Population level interventions are approaches designed to support homelessness prevention across communities. Such approaches include interventions designed to change policies at the regional and national levels. Approaches such as increasing the incomes of people who are living in deep poverty so that they are no longer at risk of tenancy loss, improving income assistance programs, making deeply affordable housing more available through increasing funding for social or public housing, and policies that mitigate the rising cost of living represent population level approaches to homelessness prevention. Practitioners can advocate for these approaches, researchers can provide evidence to inform policy, policymakers can use evidence to inform their decision-making, and advocates can pressure governments to make needed changes to policy that directly impact the lives of people who experience homelessness. Learn more about population-level strategies for homelessness prevention by reading Chapter 8 of the Bridging the Transition Book: Population-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life . Watch the video below to hear from persons with lived experiences of homelessness, service providers, and policymakers on the value of interventions focused on homelessness prevention at the population level. To learn more about the "6 Guiding Principles" of the Bridging the Transition Framework, click on the button below. "6 Guiding Principles" References Boland, L. (2025). Individual Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 65-75). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003541332-8/individual-strategies-supporting-function-participation-daily-life-leonie-boland Marshall, C. A., & Barbic, S. (2025). Community-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 76-88). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003541332-9/community-level-strategies-supporting-function-participation-daily-life-carrie-anne-marshall-skye-barbic Smith-Carrier, T. (2025). Population-Level Strategies for Supporting Function and Participation in Daily Life. In Bridging the Transition to Housing (pp. 89-101). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003541332-10/population-level-strategies-supporting-function-participation-daily-life-tracy-smith-carrier

Request a workshop on the Bridging the Transition Framework, a homelessness prevention framework, for your community or group. Our workshop is two days in duration, and focuses on building skills for promoting function and participation during and following homelessness at individual, community and population levels. Interested in the Bridging the Transition Workshop? The Bridging the Transition Workshop is a 2-day, interactive introduction to the Bridging the Transition Framework, and includes the following content: An overview of the framework and how it was developed A summary of evidence-informed practices in homelessness prevention A detailed introduction to all components of the Bridging the Transition framework, including an application to case-based scenarios An introduction to strategies that can be used at individual, community and population levels An opportunity to identify areas of focus for your own community to help to promote homelessness prevention An introduction to advocacy approaches such as media engagement, engaging with policymakers, and using research to highlight areas of intervention in your own community Reach out to find out when our next workshop is scheduled, or to request a workshop for your own community First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for your interest!