Employment Skills Development Canada's Homelessness Knowledge Development stream of funding provided a grant to researcher Matt Thomson to study study the potential for discharge best practices as a tool for preventing homelessness. The purpose of the study was to identify effective policies, practices and resource requirements for discharging homeless or at risk clients and patients from mental health facilities, and the relationship between these facilities and partnership community service agencies. The research examined four different mental health facilities, two in rural communities and two in Metro Vancouver. A cross case analysis was conducted identifying common best practices used and challenges to discharge planning for at-risk and homeless clients.