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documented with decreases of more than 50% in tenants' emergency room visits and hospital inpatient days; decreases in tenants' use of emergency detoxification services by more than 80%; and increases in the use of preventive health care services.
Positive impacts on employment. Increases of 50% in earned income and 40% in the rate of participant employment when employment services are provided in supportive housing, and a significant decrease in dependence on entitlements - a $1,448 decrease per tenant each year
Positive impacts on treating mental illness. A study of nearly 900 homeless people with mental illness provided with supportive housing found 83.5% of participants remained housed a year later, and that participants experienced a decrease in symptoms of schizophrenia and depression. A study of almost 5,000 homeless individuals with mental illness placed in supportive housing through the NY/NY program confirmed that nearly 80% remained housed a year later, with 10% moving on to independent settings.
Positive impacts on reducing or ending substance use. Once people with histories of substance use achieve sobriety, their living situation is often a factor in their ability to stay clean and sober. A one-year follow-up study of 201 graduates of the Eden Programs chemical dependency treatment programs in Minneapolis found that 56.6% of those living independently remained sober; 56.5% of those living in a halfway house remained sober; 57.1% of those living in an unsupported SRO remained sober; while 90% of those living in supportive housing remained sober. |
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"Housing First" is an alternative to emergency shelter/transitional housing. Housing First moves individuals directly from the streets and shelters into their own home. Individuals are followed up with case management services. It is premised on research that proves that permanent supportive housing is the most effective and cost efficient housing and service model for chronically homeless individuals. Without a stable place to live and a support system to help them address their underlying problems, most homeless people bounce from one emergency system to the next--from the streets to shelters to public hospitals to psychiatric institutions and detox centers and back to the streets--endlessly. The extremely high cost of this cycle of homelessness, in human and economic terms, can be seen in the lives of the men who come through the doors of Immaculates' emergency shelter. Our goal is that at least 200 individuals will be housed in this manner by 2010.
National studies have shown that as permanent supportive housing is made available to house chronically homeless individuals, the need for emergency shelter beds decreases. Additionally positive impacts on health have been |
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To contact us: |
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Phone: 860-293-0054 Fax: 860-293-0513 Email: christine@icshc.org www.icshc.org |
