Abstract
The positive relationship between social support and mental health has been well documented, but individuals experiencing chronic homelessness face serious disruptions to their social networks. Housing First (HF) programming has been shown to improve health and stability of formerly chronically homeless individuals. However, researchers are only just starting to understand the impact HF has on residents’ individual social integration. The purpose of the current study was to describe and understand changes in social networks of residents living in a HF program. Researchers employed a longitudinal, convergent parallel mixed method design, collecting quantitative social network data through structured interviews (n = 13) and qualitative data through semi-structured interviews (n = 20). Quantitative results demonstrated a reduction in network size over the course of one year. However, increases in both network density and frequency of contact with network members increased. Qualitative interviews demonstrated a strengthening in the quality of relationships with family and housing providers and a shedding of burdensome and abusive relationships. These results suggest network decay is a possible indicator of participants’ recovery process as they discontinued negative relationships and strengthened positive ones.
Highlights
70,000 individuals in the United States were recorded as experiencing chronic homelessness in 2016 (Henry et al 2016), meaning they have (a) been continuously without housing for more than one year or experienced homelessness repeatedly within the past three years and (b) have a documented disability (U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development 2013)
This most recent census represents an approximate 35% decrease in chronic homelessness since 2007 (Henry et al 2016). This drop has been attributed largely to the spread of the evidence-based permanent supportive housing model known as Housing First (HF), which was developed to serve chronically homeless individuals with dually-diagnosed serious mental illness and substance use disorder (Tsemberis 2010)
What changes in social network size and quality occurred over the course of the first year of services?
Summary
70,000 individuals in the United States were recorded as experiencing chronic homelessness in 2016 (Henry et al 2016), meaning they have (a) been continuously without housing for more than one year or experienced homelessness repeatedly within the past three years and (b) have a documented disability (including serious mental illness or substance use disorder) (U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development 2013). This most recent census represents an approximate 35% decrease in chronic homelessness since 2007 (Henry et al 2016).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call