Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 100-105, October 2009

Lessening homelessness among persons with mental illness: A comparison of five randomized treatment trials☆

  • Russell K. Schutt

      Affiliations

    • University of Massachusetts Boston and Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Dr., Landmark Center 2E, Boston, MA 02215, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 617 998 5034; fax: +1 617 998 5007.
    • ,
  • Richard L. Hough

      Affiliations

    • Children & Family Research Group, 3020 Children's Way, MC5033, San Diego, CA 92123, United States
    • Present address: Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, United States.
    • ,
  • Stephen M. Goldfinger

      Affiliations

    • Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, United States
    • Present address: Department of Psychiatry, SUNY/Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States.
    • ,
  • Anthony F. Lehman

      Affiliations

    • Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 645 W Redwood St., Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
    • Present address: Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, United States.
    • ,
  • David L. Shern

      Affiliations

    • New York State Office of Mental Health, United States
    • Present address: National Mental Health Association, United States.
    • ,
  • Elie Valencia

      Affiliations

    • Columbia University, School of Public Health and Medicine, United States
    • Present address: Epidemiology Department, Columbia University, United States.
    • ,
  • Patricia A. Wood

      Affiliations

    • Children & Family Research Group, 3020 Children's Way, MC5033, San Diego, CA 92123, United States
    • Present address: Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at San Diego Children's Hospital and Health Center, United States.

Received 26 December 2008; accepted 19 July 2009. published online 16 August 2011.

Abstract 

We evaluate the influence of housing, services, and individual characteristics on housing loss among formerly homeless mentally ill persons who participated in a five-site (4-city) study in the U.S. Housing and service availability were manipulated within randomized experimental designs and substance abuse and other covariates were measured with a common protocol. Findings indicate that housing availability was the primary predictor of subsequent ability to avoid homelessness, while enhanced services reduced the risk of homelessness if housing was also available. Substance abuse increased the risk of housing loss in some conditions in some projects, but specific findings differed between projects and with respect to time spent in shelters and on the streets. We identify implications for research on homeless persons with mental illness that spans different national and local contexts and involves diverse ethnic groups.

Keywords: Homelessness, Mental illness, Substance abuse

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☆ This research was supported by research demonstration grants FM-48096, FM-48070, FM-48080, FM-48041, and FM-48215 from the National Institute of Mental Health and, after 1992, the Center for Mental Health Services. We are grateful for the comments of Bruce DeForge, Joe Massaro, and the anonymous AJP reviewers.

PII: S1876-2018(09)00067-7

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2009.07.003

Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 100-105, October 2009

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