Preventing recurrent homelessness among mentally ill men: a "critical time" intervention after discharge from a shelter.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined a strategy to prevent homelessness among individuals with severe mental illness by providing a bridge between institutional and community care.


METHODS
Ninety-six men with severe mental illness who were entering community housing from a shelter institution were randomized to receive 9 months of a "critical time" intervention plus usual services or usual services only. The primary analysis compared the mean number of homeless nights for the two groups during the 18-month follow-up period. To elucidate time trends, survival curves were used.


RESULTS
Over the 18-month follow-up period, the average number of homeless nights was 30 for the critical time intervention group and 91 for the usual services group. Survival curves showed that after the 9-month period of active intervention, the difference between the two groups did not diminish.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies that focus on a critical time of transition may contribute to the prevention of recurrent homelessness among individuals with mental illness, even after the period of active intervention.
Susser
E
E
Columbia University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032, USA.
Valencia
E
E
Conover
S
S
Felix
A
A
Tsai
W Y
WY
Wyatt
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009519:New York City; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care