Table 1.

Examples of main activities of Homeless Outreach Counsellors

Category	Examples
1. Connection to community-based providers	Referral to case managers, housing workers, harm reduction services, and shelters.
2. Patient advocacy during hospital stay and discharge process	Link to addiction and harm reduction services within hospital and surrounding area. Help patients apply for housing, social benefits, and identification. Connect to social activities and provide other materials for in-hospital entertainment. Participate in creation of discharge plan and support patient/team in the actual discharge process.
3. Health-related support after discharge	Remind patients about their medication regimes. Arrange medication storage at postdischarge setting. Help patients fill prescriptions (direct patients or accompany them to local pharmacies). Help patients with accessing opioid agonist therapy and safer supply. Help patients procure medical aides and devices. Remind patients about upcoming medical appointments. Attend medical appointments with patients. Help patients find and connect with primary care providers. Help patients arrange for home care, wound care, eye care and dental care. Connect patients to disease-specific programmes. Purchase medical-related items to help follow through with postdischarge plans.
4. Social-related support after discharge	Help patients apply for housing, social benefits and identification. Arrange transportation to postdischarge setting. Help patients find alternative shelter based on unique needs.
5. Information transfer	Follow-up with shelters and case managers to ensure that they have the patient discharge plan and are supporting it. Ensure that outpatient services are also aware of patient discharge plan and following through with it. Ensure that this hospital and other hospitals are aware of the hospitalisation and discharge plan.