title: Use of mental health services by formerly homeless adults residing in group and independent housing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined patterns of mental health service use among 112 formerly homeless mentally ill adults to determine whether clients in a staffed group living situation would need fewer types of services or lesser amounts of some services than those living independently in single apartments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clients in the Boston McKinney demonstration project were randomly assigned to two housing types: individual apartments or a group living situation designed to teach residents to manage the house and their own affairs with minimal staff presence. The types and amounts of services these clients used during an 18-month period were documented and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Service use by all clients was heavy, especially use of inpatient psychiatric services. It did not differ by housing type. The large majority of clients in both housing types were able to remain housed and avoid homelessness. Clients who did not stay in assigned housing for the duration of the study had higher levels of inpatient service use, including detoxification and substance abuse treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When homeless mentally ill adults are provided permanent housing and accessible mental health treatment and specialized social services, they are likely to avoid unstable housing patterns, which are associated with higher use of inpatient services.
authors.affiliation: McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dickey
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schutt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldfinger
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016352:Group Homes; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation