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Support Provided Through Sport: An Evaluation of an Intervention for People Experiencing Homelessness

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Abstract

The last ten years in Canada have seen a degree of merger between community mental health services and efforts to end homelessness, in part through the growth of a Housing First model in the homelessness sector. As efforts are made to move individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing, one component being explored is how to anchor people into communities while they manage ongoing mental health concerns. Sport has been identified as one potential modality of building social inclusion. In this paper, a mixed methods evaluation is presented on a program intended to increase social inclusion through sports geared towards those living with mental health challenges and/or experiencing homelessness. Results showed that the program was a ‘Refuge’ for people with complex and challenging lives, that participants found a sense of ‘Fellowship’, and discovered ‘New Energy’. It is concluded that community sports programs might offer a promising intervention to move community integration from aspiration to reality.

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Funding

Funding for this evaluation was provided through the Ontario Sport and Recreation Community Fund grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Room 23044 FIMs and Nursing Building, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

    Abram Oudshoorn, Jenna Richards & Amy Van Berkum

  2. School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, Canada

    Laura Misener

Authors
  1. Abram Oudshoorn
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  2. Laura Misener
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  3. Jenna Richards
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  4. Amy Van Berkum
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Contributions

AO was the project PI and supported all aspects from development through KT. LM as co-investigator provided intellectual guidance particularly around sport and inclusion, including co-authorship. JR as the project Research Assistant collected the bulk of the data and supported analysis and writing. AVB as Research Coordinator supported literature review and integration, as well as writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abram Oudshoorn.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by Western University’s Research Ethics Board – protocol #108466. Written, informed consent was obtained from all participants. The human participants provided informed consent for direct quotes to be used in the research dissemination.

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Appendix 1: Interview Guide – Active For Life Evaluation

Appendix 1: Interview Guide – Active For Life Evaluation

  1. 1.

    Which activities of the Active For Life program are you involved in?

  2. 2.

    How did you get involved with these activities?

  3. 3.

    Why did you choose these activities?

  4. 4.

    Have you had any trouble accessing these activities?

  5. 5.

    Have you seen any changes to your physical health that you would attribute to these activities?

  6. 6.

    Have you seen any changes to your mental health that you would attribute to these activities?

  7. 7.

    Have the activities made you feel any more or less connected?

  8. 8.

    Have you met any new people through these activities?

  9. 9.

    Do you connect with any fellow athletes from the Active For Life activities outside of the program?

  10. 10.

    Has participation in these activities taught you anything about being active?

  11. 11.

    Has participation in these activities led you to participate in anything else?

  12. 12.

    Are you considering remaining involved in Active For Life?

  13. 13.

    Are you considering becoming involved in other recreational activities?

  14. 14.

    What kind of recreational activities would you prefer to be involved with in the future?

  15. 15.

    If you could change something about Active For Life, what would it be?

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Oudshoorn, A., Misener, L., Richards, J. et al. Support Provided Through Sport: An Evaluation of an Intervention for People Experiencing Homelessness. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 10, 167–177 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-022-00300-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-022-00300-9

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