title: A narrative approach to the evaluation of supportive housing: stories of homeless people who have experienced serious mental illness.
abstract: We present the findings of a narrative approach to the evaluation of supportive housing for formerly homeless people who have experienced serious mental illness. According to the accounts of 11 men and 9 women, their youth and adult years were filled with personal problems, troubled relationships, and a lack of adequate social resources. Since entering supportive housing, participants noted more stability in their lives and the beginning of journeys to recover positive personal identities, restore or develop new supportive relationships, and reclaim resources vital to leading lives with dignity and meaning. The findings add to the literature on housing interventions for this population in suggesting many positive gains beyond reductions in homelessness and hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Juanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Febbraro
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatzipantelis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D033262:Narration; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support