Stephen Gaetz, together with researchers from Victoria, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto, recently received $100,000 from CIHR in the Catalyst Grant: Pandemic Preparedness competition. In the event of a pandemic, it is not clear whether the infrastructures to address homelessness, public health or the health care system in general will be prepared to adequately respond to the risks faced by the homeless population. This is an important topic as homelessness in Canada worsens, with more than 250,000 individuals using homeless shelters annually. This research project will address key challenges to effective pandemic preparedness in the context of the homelessness crisis in Canada by asking: 1) What risks does a potential influenza pandemic pose to people who are homeless in Canada? 2) How might the design and structure of emergency homelessness services impact (in both positive and negative ways) on the spread of infectious diseases? 3) How adequately prepared are the interdependent infrastructures that work with vulnerable populations such as the homeless in the event of a pandemic? The goal is to mobilize a knowledge network to assist in the development of policy as well as preventive and response strategies that will safeguard not only the homeless population, but the larger community in general.