Introduction: This 12-month pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) built on previous community-engaged work and explored whether portable rent subsidies and an intervention targeting identity capital (purpose, control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem) hold promise as a way to facilitate socioeconomic inclusion for youth (age 16 - 24 years) exiting homelessness and living in market rent housing in Ontario, Canada. All (n = 40) participants received rent subsidies; half were randomly assigned an identity capital intervention (co-designed leadership guide + coach). Methods and analysis: This study employed a convergent mixed methods, two-arm parallel RCT, open-label design with 1:1 allocation embedded within a Community Based Participatory Action Research framework and underpinned by Critical Social Theory. Specifically, the objectives and measures were: 1. Primary - to examine whether targeted economic and identity-based supports are a feasible and acceptable way to foster socioeconomic inclusion. Measures: recruitment/enrolment/dropout metrics; self-report composite checklists regarding intervention engagement; coaching session attendance; qualitative focus groups. 2. Secondary - to assess differences between targeted economic and identity-based supports (intervention group) and economic supports only (control group) at the 12-month primary endpoint with respect to self-reported socioeconomic inclusion measures of: 1) education, employment and training (EET); 2) housing security; and 3) identity capital. Measures: self-report composite EET checklist; self-report measures of housing security and identity capital. 3. Exploratory - to explore whether the estimated effect of the intervention differed by baseline variables or level of engagement with the intervention. Measures: select variables from the baseline demographic questionnaire; GAIN-Short Screener questionnaire for those in the intervention group. Ethics and dissemination: This study received ethical approval from the Unity Health Toronto Research Ethics Board. The investigators will continue working alongside community partners - including youth with lived expertise - to disseminate findings broadly and in diverse formats.
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Feasibility and Acceptability of the Intervention Over 12 Months (Measured by Recruitment, Enrolment, and Dropout Metrics)
Timeframe: Assessed at baseline and 12-months.
Feasibility and Acceptability of the Intervention Over 12 Months (Informed by Qualitative Data From Focus Groups)
Timeframe: Assessed at 4-months, 8-months, and 12-months.
Feasibility and Acceptability of the Intervention Over 12 Months (Measured by Coaching Session Attendance Over 12 Months)
Timeframe: Assessed at 12-months.
Feasibility and Acceptability of the Intervention Over 12 Months (Measured by the Intervention Engagement Questionnaire)
Timeframe: Assessed at 4-months, 8-months, and 12-months.