For persons with serious mental illness, supported housing is typically offered as an alternative to the traditional residential continuum and emphasizes consumer choice, use of regular housing stock, and individualized and flexible services and community supports. The majority policy question addressed by the CMHS Housing Initiative for Persons with Serious Mental Illness is whether a supported housing approach is more effective than other housing approaches in helping persons with serious mental illness achieve residential stability, and improve their level of functioning, satisfaction, quality of life, and independence.
A major feature of the CMHS Housing Initiative was to fully understand the structure and process of supported housing. CMHS has defined a model of supported housing that served as the basis of a fidelity framework. The framework was designed to describe the major dimensions of the housing approaches and indcators within each dimension that would characterize "fidelity fit". Across the six sites involved in the CMHS Housing Initiative, the fidelity of over 40 different supported housing programs to the ideal model was examined. The methodology involved a triangulated housing approach, systematically incorporating data from program management, staff, and consumer perspectives.
This presentation describes the framework, the methodology used to collect the fidelity data, and the extent to which fidelity was achieved. Departures from the ideal model will be discussed, particularly on dimensions that may suggest the use of housing as leverage in getting individuals to use mental health services.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Describe the structure and process of supported housing for persons with serious mental illness. 2. Describe a fidelity framework developed for supported housing programs. 3. Describe variations in supported housing based on this fidelity framework in various housing programs operating across the country.
Keywords: Mental Illness, Housing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.