Partnership in Data Exploration (PiDE) Framework: A Case Study for Community Partnerships using Linked Homelessness Data

Introduction: Canada’s housing and homelessness systems of care (HHSC) generate extensive administrative data to support service delivery. We propose a Partnership in Data Exploration (PiDE) methodology for analysing linked administrative data to support approaches to prevent and end youth homelessness. We describe a PiDE case study examining pathways from youth to adult homelessness supports. Objectives: Our case study aimed to 1. Identify pathways Youth Transitions to Adulthood (YTA) participants take into adult services (“Where are they?”), and 2. Assess the status and wellbeing of past YTA participants upon adult service entry (“What is bringing them in?”). Methods: PiDE uses an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. Qualitative interviews were conducted to build the quantitative analysis of the linked administrative data. Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Calgary approval REB21-1386 Participants and Data: Qualitative interviews with YTA staff (n=8) generated three themes. Anonymized data from Trellis Society (n=8029) and adult system data with the Calgary Homeless Foundation (n=3020) was linked to create a data set with 831 unique participants. The quantitative analysis examined 2203 responses. Results: Averages for participants showed more positive Wellness Impact Value responses for balancing Present Crisis vs. Future Goals (52.8%) and Navigating the Unfamiliarity of Adulthood (46.4%), and more negative responses in Broken Relationships and Stand-In for Supports (44.4%). Implications: The framework is an effective tool for incorporating frontline expertise into secondary administrative data analysis to support prevention research. The results support preparing youth for adulthood through life skill development and developing supportive networks of natural and formal supports.