Staff Approaches to Facilitating Neighborhood Connections Among Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Living in Shared Community-Based Housing

Abstract

Community inclusion is a goal of shared, staff supervised community-based housing for individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis, and neighborhood connections are one aspect of local social interactions. Mental health housing staff are potential facilitators of such connections, but little is known about their approaches in furthering engagement with neighbors. This study reports the results of interviews with on-site program staff at 137 shared houses and apartments for individuals with serious mental illness to collect information on staff approaches to facilitating neighborhood connections among residents. Findings indicated sharp divides in approaches with some staff actively facilitating connections, and others choosing not to engage.