The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46526

Allison Zippay, PhD, Rutgers University, 536 George St., New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 732-932-3453, zippay@rci.rutgers.edu

While most public and private mental health agencies are currently focused on the development of independent and supported housing for the persistently mentally ill, many also continue to establish group housing as one component of their residential programs. Many administrators report that neighborhood hostility toward these group residential sites often remains a challenge. While the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments gave administrators the legal authority to forego advance notification of neighbors, some continue to practice outreach and notification. Little empirical evidence is available, however, on the types of siting strategies currently in use, their rationale, and affects on neighborhood relations. This presentation reports the results of a random survey of 300 mental health administrators and housing staff from the states of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, and Florida. The study examined the types of pre-and post-siting strategies used in the development of their agency's most recently established group residence, the rationales for the strategies, and the degree to which various strategies were associated with neighborhood resistance or acceptance. As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1.Describe the rationales for the range of siting strategies currently in use to establish and maintain group residences, including normalization and community-building approaches. 2. Define the differences in notification and outreach practices in “autonomous” and “collaborative” siting strategies, and identify which practices have been linked to neighborhood resistance and why. 3. Identify the types of post-siting efforts that agency administrators and site residents have initiated to foster acquaintances and interactions with neighbors.

Learning Objectives: As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the rationales for the range of siting strategies currently in use to establish and maintain group residences, including normalization and community-building approaches.
• Define the differences in notification and outreach practices in “autonomous” and “collaborative” siting strategies, and identify which practices have been linked to neighborhood resistance and why.
• Identify the types of post-siting efforts that agency administrators and site residents have initiated to foster acquaintances and interactions with neighbors.

Keywords: Housing, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.