FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO THE STREETS FOR THE HOMELESS MENTALLY-ILL - EFFICACY AT A STATE-HOSPITAL INTENSIVE PLACEMENT UNIT

The authors describe a sample of homeless mentally ill patients receiv ing extended psychiatric care on an intensive placement unit. Summarie s of 246 discharges were reviewed to examine demographic and clinical factors associated with extended psychiatric care and postdischarge pl acement. It was found that homeless patients requiring extended care w ere often medically ill and substance abusing. Residential placements were accepted by most patients on discharge. It was determined that ho meless psychiatric patients benefited from extended care on an inpatie nt unit designed to alleviate anxieties regarding living arrangements and psychiatric treatment systems historically rejected by this popula tion.