Halfway house residents: where do they go?

Abstract

Three community-based nonmedical halfway houses for recently released mentally ill patients were surveyed to determine where the halfway house residents relocated following termination. Of 60 successful ex-residents, 36 were seen to relocate within 1 mile (street mileage) of the halfway house. This appeared to be significantly different from the number who may have lived within 1 mile of the halfway house before residence in the halfway house. The halfway house staff reported that the main determinant of the terminees remaining in the vicinity was the continuance of formal and informal supportive relationships that had been established during the period of residence. This finding was briefly discussed as to possible implications for planning and treatment related to halfway house programs.