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Intervention effects of supplying homeless individuals with permanent housing: a 3‐year prospective study
Author(s) -
Fichter M. M.,
Quadflieg N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00715.x
Subject(s) - psychopathology , intervention (counseling) , psychiatry , mental health , mental illness , prospective cohort study , public housing , psychology , medicine , gerontology , engineering , civil engineering , surgery
Objective: To describe the intervention effects of supplying homeless individuals with permanent housing. Method: In a prospective study, 109 male and 20 female homeless individuals were assessed at baseline and at 1‐ and 3‐year follow‐up concerning mental illness (SCID‐I), psychopathology, global assessment of functioning, emotional lability and alcohol consumption. Results: A high proportion (86%) of the individuals was able to maintain or improve stability of housing. Only minor changes were observed concerning mental illness and global functioning. Extensive alcohol consumption and high psychopathology increased the risk of losing the stable housing. Conclusion: The placement of homeless individuals in board and care homes or community housing after social counselling seems to be a necessary measure to remedy homelessness. However, supplying more permanent housing is not sufficient to decisively improve mental health status.