PROVIDING INDEPENDENT HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS MENTALLY-ILL - A NOVEL-APPROACH TO EVALUATING LONG-TERM LONGITUDINAL HOUSING PATTERNS

The provision of adequate housing for the severely mentally ill homele ss has been considered a prerequisite for successful treatment. Whethe r or not providing access to independent housing environments without on-site support is an effective means for stabilizing this population in the community is far less studied. Preference studies indicate a st rong desire for access to independent housing, but little is known abo ut the ability of mentally ill homeless persons to remain in independe nt housing when such access is provided. The McKinney Homeless Researc h Demonstration Project in San Diego, CA evaluated the effectiveness o f using Section 8 certificates as a means of providing independent hou sing to the severely mentally ill homeless. Three hundred sixty-two cl ients took part in a long-term experimental study employing a randomiz ed factorial design. Clients were assigned to one of two types of supp ortive case management (comprehensive vs. traditional) and to one of t wo levels of access to independent housing (using Section 8 certificat es). Innovative longitudinal summaries of housing outcomes were develo ped based on clients' patterns of living over time. Nine different pat terns of living arrangements were identified, ranging from continuous occupation of independent housing to consistently unstable housing. Ac cess to Section 8 housing markedly increased the probability of achiev ing stable independent living arrangements and of continued contact wi th case management services. A subset of clients in all experimental c onditions followed less successful housing patterns, indicating the ne ed to develop different service programs for individuals with differen t needs. Overall, however, access to independent housing had very posi tive effects on residential stability.