SOURCES OF INCOME AMONG HOMELESS ADULTS WITH MAJOR MENTAL-DISORDERS OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Objective: The study documented sources and amounts of income among ho meless adults with major mental or substance use disorders, It examine d whether income varied by diagnostic group and whether those who rece ived case management would be more likely to have income. Methods: A t otal of 564 homeless adults from a countywide probability sample compl eted structured interviews. Based on DSM-III-R criteria, respondents w ere divided into four groups-those with current major mental disorders , substance use disorders, dual disorders, and no disorders. Income fr om entitlement benefits, formal-sector employment, informal-sector emp loyment, and other sources was documented by group, Logistic regressio n analysis was used to examine relationships between income sources, c ase management, and diagnostic groups. Results: Although informal-sect or income was the most common income source, it provided the fewest me dian dollars per month ($42). Entitlement benefits provided the most m onthly income ($340) and was the second most common source. Respondent s with major mental disorders, substance use disorders, or dual disord ers were no less likely than those with no disorders to report income from entitlement benefits or formal-sector employment, Among those wit h major mental disorders, substance use disorders, or dual disorders, respondents who had recent case management were four to nine times mor e likely to report entitlement income. Conclusions: The results suppor t other research and anecdotal findings on the importance of case mana gement in obtaining entitlement income among homeless adults with majo r mental or substance use disorders.