149174 Housing stability among homeless individuals with serious mental illness participating in housing first programs

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 8:50 AM

Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, MPA, MSSW , Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmigham, AL
Carol L. Pearson, PhD , Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD
Background: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that up to 200,000 chronically homeless individuals lived in the United States in 2005. Housing with services increases housing tenure and reduces hospital stays and days homeless for homeless single adults with serious mental illness and often co-occurring substance-related disorders. The housing first approach is designed to improve housing stability for these individuals, offering housing without requirements for treatment or sobriety.

Purpose: To present findings from a study of three housing first programs providing permanent supportive housing for single, homeless adults with serious mental illness and often co-occurring substance-related disorders.

Methods: The study team studied three housing first programs and tracked approximately 25 participants in each program for one year, measuring variables related to housing stability, mental health, and substance use. The team analyzed data to determine differences among programs.

Results: The housing first approach may help the hardest-to-serve chronically homeless achieve housing stability. Of the 80 participants, 84 percent remained in the program for at least one year and one-half spent every night in their housing first unit. Health-related outcomes did not change significantly over time.

Discussion: The housing first approach achieves positive housing outcomes for a population with high service needs. Program variations indicate that increased housing stability is related to a substantial supply of permanent housing and responsive staff to provide services and help participants to maintain housing.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to (1) describe and understand the concept of housing first for chronically homeless individuals with serious mental illness and often co-occurring substance-related disorders; (2) identify the health-related outcomes of this program for formerly-chronically homeless individuals; and (3) discuss program variations and their impact on outcomes.

Keywords: Homelessness, Housing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.