Samuel B. Little, PhD, School of Social Work; Charles Callahan, DO, Department of Pediatrics; Aaron D. Greenblatt, MD, Department of Family and Community Medicine; and Max Spaderna, MD, Department of Psychiatry are co-principle investigators on a research grant funded by the US Departments of Health and Human Services. Social Work Assistance and Stipends for Housing (SASH): Improving Outcomes for Homeless Patients Receiving Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder is a feasibility study that will provide a twelve-month intervention to improve Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), quality of life (QOL) and housing outcomes for homeless patients receiving methadone for opioid use disorder (MOUD). To achieve these goals, patients in the study will receive monthly housings stipends of $500 that can be used for a broad range of temporary housing included in a list of resources compiled by the study. These stipends will be accompanied by social work assistance provided by advanced level MSW from the School of Social Work. Interns also will help participants find permanent housing as well. For individuals with OUD, homelessness adds an extra layer of burden that negatively impacts their health outcomes.
They are less likely to access evidence-based treatment such as pharmacotherapy and are likely to overdose on opioids. Providing housing to homeless individuals can greatly improve health outcomes. According to the literature, over time, reducing homelessness has been shown to decrease emergency department visits, hospital days, and health care costs.