The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness Project
This exploratory study focused on three programs using the Housing First approach to provide permanent supportive housing for single, homeless adults with serious mental illness and often co-occurring substance-related disorders. This approach provides direct, or nearly direct, access to housing that is intended to be permanent without requiring sobriety or psychiatric treatment. Findings from the three programs examined for this study indicate that the Housing First approach may help the hardest-to-serve chronically homeless population achieve housing stability. Of the 80 participants tracked over 12 months, 84% remained enrolled in the Housing First program for one year following program entry. One half of those spent every night in their Housing First unit, while the others spent some time in other living environments.
Strategies for Preventing Homelessness Project
This study identified and described community-wide strategies for preventing homelessness among families and single adults with serious mental illness. The study involved six communities. The most obvious finding was that it was difficult to identify sites with community-wide strategies, and even harder to find any that maintained data capable of documenting prevention success. Elements of successful strategies included mechanisms for accurate targeting, a high level of jurisdictional commitment, significant mainstream agency involvement, and mechanisms for continuous system improvement.
Strategies for Reducing Chronic Homelessness
This study had two primary purposes: The first was to identify successful community-wide approaches (best practices) to help the difficult-to-serve populations of adults who routinely live on the streets. The second was to document these successful approaches in a way that will help other communities trying to address this problem. The study profiled the efforts of communities that have been successful in reducing chronic street homelessness. It also elicited an understanding of how different agencies and programs worked together to achieve that goal, through policies, practices, and program coordination.
Impact of Offender Reentry Policies on Homelessness
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of state and local prisoner reentry policies on homelessness in selected communities. These policies were documented in a way that will help HUD identify policy and practice issues that may need to be addressed. Most offenders, upon release, will be at risk for homelessness if they are not adequately prepared to re-enter the community. Many have limited education, literacy, job skills, social skills, and knowledge of community resources. When the correction system offers programs to address these needs and maintain ties to support networks and families, ex-offenders may be more likely to obtain stable housing and employment. When correction policies require coordination with community resources on behalf of the ex-offender, they may also prevent homelessness among this group.
