title: Impact of Supported Housing on Social Relationships Among Homeless Veterans.
abstract: This study examined social network structure and function among a sample of 460 homeless veterans who participated in an experimental trial of the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
  
  
  
  Participants were randomly assigned to HUD-VASH (housing subsidies and case management), case management only, or standard care. Mixed-model longitudinal analysis was used to compare treatment groups on social network outcomes over 18 months.
  
  
  
  Veterans in HUD-VASH reported significantly greater increases in social support than veterans in the two other groups, as well as greater frequency of contacts, availability of tangible and emotional support, and satisfaction with nonkin relationships over time. These gains largely involved relationships with providers and other veterans encountered in treatment.
  
  
  
  Supported housing may play a pivotal role in fostering constructive new relationships with persons associated with service programs but may have a more limited impact on natural support networks.
authors.affiliation: The authors are with the Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (e-mail: maria.oconnell@yale.edu ). Dr. Kasprow and Dr. Rosenheck are also with the Department of Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: The authors are with the Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (e-mail: maria.oconnell@yale.edu ). Dr. Kasprow and Dr. Rosenheck are also with the Department of Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Wesley J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kasprow
authors.affiliation: The authors are with the Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (e-mail: maria.oconnell@yale.edu ). Dr. Kasprow and Dr. Rosenheck are also with the Department of Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosenheck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Homeless mentally ill; Social support networks; Supportive housing; Veterans issues