Correlates of improvement in quality of life among homeless persons with serious mental illness

Longitudinal data from 4,331 homeless mentally ill clients at 18 sites part icipating in the Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Suppor ts program were used to assess participants' quality of life over a one-yea r period. At baseline higher quality of life was associated with less sever e depressive and psychotic symptoms, less use of alcohol and drugs, and mor e social support. At 12 months improved quality of life was associated with decreased psychotic and depressive symptoms, reduced substance abuse, fewe r days of homelessness, and increased social support, income, employment, a nd service use.