Community Housing Programs Research Articles

Community housing: functional outcome of severe mental illness is associated with the personality traits of the case manager

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is an association between case managers’ personality traits and functional outcome of people with severe mental illness (SMI) living in community housing programs (CHP).Design/methodology/approachFunctional outcome is measured by the extent of self-reliance. Self-reliance of people with SMI was measured with the Dutch Self-Sufficiency Matrix. The personality of the case manager was measured with the NEO Five Factor Inventory.FindingsConscientiousness of case managers was associated with an increased self-reliance over a period of two years, in those with SMI living in CHP (OR.2.800 ρ = 0.04).Practical implicationsWhen these findings are replicated, they could be used in the case managers selection process and/or training programs.Social implicationsConscientiousness of case managers was associated with functional outcome of persons with SMI living in supported housing and that female subjects benefitted the most. This study suggests that conscientious care planning is essential in the recovery process.Originality/valueNo previous studies have been performed examining the specific relationship between the case manager’s personality traits and functional outcome of people with SMI.

Tools for Moving On: Adapting an Evidence-Based Housing Curriculum for Individuals Receiving Services in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting to Prepare for Community Living.

Individuals with serious mental illness transitioning from state psychiatric hospitals to community living need specialized skills to enter community housing programs. There are few examples of best practice hospital group programs to improve community living skills. To address this gap, the authors developed a community skills training and discharge readiness program, Tools for Moving On (TFMO), adapted from materials from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Permanent Supportive Housing: Tools for Tenants toolkit. The new program uses facilitator and participant handouts, implementation recommendations, and covers four topics, including housing choices, housing preferences, tenancy skills, and support needs. Adapting existing evidence-based practices for individuals in state psychiatric hospitals may aid in successful discharge and community living and support nurses in their efforts for discharge. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(8), 23-29.].

Impact of housing improvement and the socio-physical environment on the mental health of children's carers: a cohort study in Australian Aboriginal communities.

BackgroundThe mental health of carers is an important proximate factor in the causal web linking housing conditions to child health, as well as being important in its own right. Improved understanding of the nature of the relationships between housing conditions, carer mental health and child health outcomes is therefore important for informing the development of housing programs. This paper examines the relationship between the mental health of the carers of young children, housing conditions, and other key factors in the socio-physical environment.MethodsThis analysis is part of a broader prospective cohort study of children living in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia at the time of major new community housing programs. Carer’s mental health was assessed using two validated scales: the Affect Balance scale and the Brief Screen for Depression. The quality of housing infrastructure was assessed through detailed surveys. Secondary explanatory variables included a range of socio-environmental factors, including validated measures of stressful life events. Hierarchical regression modelling was used to assess associations between outcome and explanatory variables at baseline, and associations between change in housing conditions and change in outcomes between baseline and follow-up.ResultsThere was no clear or consistent evidence of a causal relationship between the functional state of household infrastructure and the mental health of carers of young children. The strongest and most consistent associations with carer mental health were the measures of negative life events, with a dose–response relationship, and adjusted odds ratio of over 6 for carers in the highest stress exposure category at baseline, and consistent associations in the follow up analysis.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the need for housing programs to be supported by social, behavioral and community-wide environmental programs if potential health gains are to be more fully realized, and for rigorous evaluation of such programs for the purpose of informing future housing initiatives.

Efficacy of ecologically-based treatment with substance-abusing homeless mothers: Substance use and housing outcomes

This randomized pilot study tested the efficacy of an integrative treatment targeting homeless substance abusing mothers with young children in their care. Sixty mothers with 2–6year old children were recruited from a local family shelter. The mothers were randomly assigned to Ecologically-Based Treatment (n=30) or treatment as usual (n=30). The intervention group received 3months of rental and utility assistance up to $600 per month, case management services, and substance abuse counseling (referred to as supportive services). The treatment as usual group received housing and services through the family shelter and community housing programs. All participants completed follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 9months post-baseline. Mothers receiving Ecologically-Based Treatment showed a quicker decline in alcohol frequency and a quicker increase in housing stability. Furthermore, with supportive services, two-thirds of women were successful in maintaining their apartments 6months after rental assistance ended.

Social Inclusion of People With Severe Mental Illness Living in Community Housing Programs

The authors investigated levels of social inclusion among service users of two types of psychiatric community housing programs in the Netherlands. A large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted that included service users of community housing programs (N=255) and their key workers (N=75). Data on social inclusion-participating in activities, receiving and making visits, and vocational participation-were collected through a service user diary. Univariate regression analyses were performed with the social inclusion variables as the dependent variables and type of housing program (supported independent living versus residential care) as the independent variable. Service users living independently were more likely to feel socially included, in terms of activities and visits, than residents. Type of housing program was not associated with vocational participation. Although service users living independently were more likely than residents to be socially included, their vocational participation was similar to that of residents. It seems that for both groups of service user, it is important to improve the availability of vocational interventions or programs.

Treatment plans in psychiatric community housing programs: Do they reflect rehabilitation principles?

This study examined the extent to which treatment plans of service users of community housing programs measure up to rehabilitation principles according to the Choose-Get-Keep model of psychiatric rehabilitation. The study evaluates whether these plans correspond with service-user and key-worker perspectives on unmet needs for care. A representative sample of key workers and service users of 16 Dutch Regional Institutes for Residential Care (RIRCs) participated in a cross-sectional survey. Sociodemographic and clinical data and an assessment of needs for care of 240 service users were collected. In addition, we received an anonymous copy of each participant's most recent written treatment plan. First, we developed a method to measure adherence to rehabilitation principles of written treatment plans, based on the Choose-Get-Keep model of psychiatric rehabilitation. Next, treatment plans were screened on the degree of adherence, expressed in a score from 0 to 10 for overall quality, and correlated with needs for care. RIRCs mostly seem to succeed in sufficiently integrating rehabilitation principles in their treatment plans. Adherence to rehabilitation principles was neither associated with the service-user perspective nor with the key worker perspective on needs for care. Rehabilitation principles are rather well documented in the majority of written treatment plans, although apparently without substantial consequences for needs for care among the service users. Further research is needed to validate our method and to investigate not only the adherence to rehabilitation principles in written treatment plans, but also in the actual care provision itself.

Supported Housing and Supported Independent Living in the Netherlands, with a Comparison with England

Research into community housing programs for people with severe mental illness is underexposed. The Dutch UTOPIA study describes characteristics of their service users, which may predict their allocation to either supported housing or supported independent living programs. Additionally, a comparison is made with English studies. 119 Care coordinators of Dutch residential care institutes and 534 service users participated in a cross-sectional survey which includes socio-demographic data, clinical data, measures of functioning, needs for care and quality of life. Differences between Dutch residents and independent living service users were small, making predictions of care allocation difficult. This similarity suggests a possible lack of methodical assessment in the allocation procedure of people who are eligible for residential housing or independent living programs. This is largely comparable to the English situation. In comparison with their English counterparts, Dutch service users have more met needs and are more engaged in occupational activities.

Transformações no projeto dos espaços livres públicos: do potencial ao ocupado. O conjunto Mangabeira em João Pessoa - PB

This project discusses the purpose and implementation of recreational public spaces, specially the squares, in community housing programs. More specifically, it approaches the occupation form of these spaces, which initial function was transformed by informal construction. This concern started with the knowledge of the almost inexistence of public open spaces at Mangabeira Community in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, since these areas were occupied by informal commercial properties and housings, hindering the accomplishment of the initial project of a recreational space. The goal of this research project is to understand how these areas at the Mangabeira community, which were first destined to be recreational open public spaces, were occupied, analyzing the land use. This reveals the lack of priority given to implementing public open spaces and managing the community. Several factors contributed to the occupation of these areas, such as, the housing shortage, the financial situation of the population and the public authorities’ lack of interest in implementing and managing public open spaces, preventing the use of these recreational and social spaces as basic needs that complement the living conditions. The research, result of the Master degree dissertation presented to MDU/UFPE, in 2005, that analyzed three areas destined to be squares, presents here the transformations that happened in one of them, the “Vila Cristo Rei.”

Housing for the Chronically Mentally Disabled: Part II — Process and Outcome

This paper reviews process and outcome research on community housing programs for the chronically mentally disabled. Several methods for conceptualizing and assessing housing environments are presented, and pertinent literature on each method is then reviewed. Next, research on the impact of various types of housing programs on clients' adaptation is reviewed. Methodological problems in both the process and outcome research are highlighted, and directions for future research are suggested. It is concluded that future research requires an integration of the process and outcome findings and methods to ascertain how different program characteristics are related to different facets of adaptation for different client groups.

Housing For The Chronically Mentally Disabled: Part I—Conceptual Framework And Social Context

This paper reviews research concerned with community housing programs for the chronically mentally disabled (CMD). In the first section, the ecological perspective is presented as a conceptual framework for the study of housing for the CMD. Several key concepts, such as the least restrictive environment, normalization, and integration, are tied into the ecological perspective. In the second section, literature on three dimensions of the social context of housing for the CMD is reviewed: (a) the geo-social environment: (b) responses from informal social systems; and (c) the planning, policy, and service delivery system. This literature is summarized within the framework of the ecological perspective, and the paper concludes with directions for further research and action.