Resident perspectives on a Montreal peer-run housing project for opioid users

Abstract

Objectives: Habitations Prométhéus, a peer-run Montreal transitional housing program for opioid users, places highly disorganized, homeless individuals within a structured residential environment. In this study, resident perspectives are compared with themes emerging from literature on transitional housing programs.

Methods: Thirteen residents (six individual interviews and a seven-member focus group) were consulted to identify their sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction regarding Prométhéus. Their comments were categorized based on four themes: (1) length of stay; (2) services received; (3) relationships with staff; and (4) sense of autonomy.

Results: Residents expressed satisfaction with apartment quality. They reported that the three-year maximum length of stay was too short to stabilize their situation, and emphasized the need for more assistance returning to school or work.

Conclusion: Results are mainly consistent with literature on transitional housing. However, responses were mixed concerning relationships with staff and code of conduct. The majority of residents from the group interview reported that the regulations hindered their sense of autonomy and that they would like having trained professionals available onsite to provide services other than those provided by the peers, whereas most residents interviewed individually reported appreciating peers who could relate to them, and mentioned that the code of conduct was reasonable and logical.

• Opioid users
• peers
• transitional housing

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.