title: Community integration in the early phase of housing among homeless persons diagnosed with severe mental illness: successes and challenges.
abstract: The present investigation used qualitative methods to explore the response to housing and experience of community integration of formerly homeless individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness recently housed in both independent and staffed residential settings. Findings indicate that entering into housing after a long period of homelessness is associated with improvements in community integration for most individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. However, for a meaningful minority, the adaptation to housing may also be associated with challenges that can complicate the integration process. Implications of findings are discussed in the context of how best to tailor programs to meet the complex needs of persons diagnosed with severe mental illness and to maximize community integration.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. pyanos@rci.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Philip T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Yanos
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsemberis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology