EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR HOMELESS SUBSTANCE-ABUSING MEN - OUTCOMES AND PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS

The present study was designed to explore the relative efficacy of thr ee types of service delivery intervention models for homeless men with alcohol and/or drug problems: integrated comprehensive residential se rvices provided at one site (Group 1); on-site shelter-based intensive case management with referrals to a community network of services (Gr oup 2); and usual care shelter services with case management (Group 3) . In addition to assessing the relative efficacy of these approaches i n terms of drug and alcohol use, residential stability, economic and e mployment status, the project also sought to examine what personal fac tors best predicted successful outcomes for clients. Clients were asse ssed at baseline and approximately six months following discharge. All three treatment groups improved significantly over time in terms of r educed alcohol and cocaine use, increased employment, and increased st able housing, but no differential improvement was found among groups. Successful outcomes were predicted by lower recent and lifetime substa nce use, fewer prior treatment episodes, more stable housing at baseli ne, fewer incarcerations, and less social isolation.