Shelter HArm Reduction Evaluation

Mixed-methods study using analyses of administrative homeless services and Medicaid data (Aims 1a, 1b, and 2) and in-depth qualitative interviews (Aim 3). This study will examine the implementation and impact of a Harm Reduction Strategic Plan (HRSP) portfolio of interventions in the NYC single-adult shelter system. The study will be conducted using administrative data (Aims 1a, 1b, and 2) and in-depth interviews and focus groups about client and staff experiences with the HRSP.

Inclusion criteria

For Aims 1a, 1b, and 2: There will be no participant enrollment or direct contact with individuals as these aims will involve the use of an analytic dataset comprised of linked administrative NYC homeless services, Medicaid, and vital records. The dataset will include records for individuals who entered the NYC DHS single-adult shelter system during calendar years 2021-2026, as well as a matched comparison group(s) (as identified through Medicaid data) during the same years. The matched comparison group will be comprised of individuals age 18 and older with active Medicaid coverage at the time of observation.

For Aim 3 Homeless Services Client participant group: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Adult 18 year of age or older
• Speak English
• Is staying or has stayed in an NYC single-adult shelter that has implemented HRSP interventions
• Report past-year drug use
• Able and willing to provide consent

For Aim 3 Homeless Services Staff participant group: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Speak English
• Works at an adult shelter service provider agency that implemented HRSP or received HRSP interventions (role may include case manager, security staff, shelter director, medical staff, organizational leadership)
• Able and willing to provide consent

For Aim 3 Homeless Services Stakeholder participant group: To be eligible for participation in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Speak English
• Works in a role in which they have key insight to the HRSP interventions, including planning and implementation (role may include homeless services administrator or other key stakeholder)
• Able and willing to provide consent

Exclusion criteria

Aims 1a, 1b, and 2: Children under age 18 years of age will be excluded.

Aim 3: Under age 18 years old, currently a prisoner (we are not sampling from locations where we expect to encounter prisoners), unable to communicate in English (because the interview and focus group guides will not be validated for use in other languages), and unable to provide informed consent.

For Aim 3 Homeless Services Client participant group: those who are not staying or have not stayed at a shelter with HRSP interventions and those who do not report past-year drug use will not be excluded.

For Aim 3 Homeless Services Staff participant group: those who have not been employed in a shelter with the HRSP interventions will be excluded. In alignment with standard techniques of purposeful sampling and the study goal of ensuring a range of experiences is captured in the qualitative interviews, additional targeting or exclusion criteria might be set by investigators as needed to ensure that a diverse range of experiences is included among qualitative interview participants.