A Multiple-City RCT of Housing First With Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Canadians With Serious Mental Illness.
Title | A Multiple-City RCT of Housing First With Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Canadians With Serious Mental Illness. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Aubry T, Goering P, Veldhuizen S, Adair CE, Bourque J, Distasio J, Latimer E, Stergiopoulos V, Somers J, Streiner DL, Tsemberis S |
Journal | Psychiatr Serv |
Volume | 67 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 275-81 |
Date Published | 2016 Mar |
ISSN | 1557-9700 |
Keywords | Adult, Canada, Case Management, Community Mental Health Services, Female, Homeless Persons, Housing, Humans, Linear Models, Male, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Quality of Life |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Housing First with assertive community treatment (ACT) is a promising approach to assist people with serious mental illness to exit homelessness. The article presents two-year findings from a multisite trial on the effectiveness of Housing First with ACT.METHODS: The study design was a randomized controlled trial conducted in five Canadian cities. A sample of 950 participants with serious mental illness who were absolutely homeless or precariously housed were randomly assigned to receive either Housing First with ACT (N=469) or treatment as usual (N=481).RESULTS: Housing First participants spent more time in stable housing than participants in treatment as usual (71% versus 29%, adjusted absolute difference [AAD]=42%, p<.01). Compared with treatment-as-usual participants, Housing First participants who entered housing did so more quickly (73 versus 220 days, AAD=146.4, p<.001), had longer housing tenures at the study end-point (281 versus 115 days, AAD=161.8, p<.01), and rated the quality of their housing more positively (adjusted standardized mean difference [ASMD]=.17, p<.01). Housing First participants reported higher quality of life (ASMD=.15, p<.01) and were assessed as having better community functioning (ASMD=.18, p<.01) over the two-year period. Housing First participants showed significantly greater gains in community functioning and quality of life in the first year; however, differences between the two groups were attenuated by the end of the second year.CONCLUSIONS: Housing First with ACT is an effective approach in various contexts for assisting individuals with serious mental illness to rapidly exit homelessness. |
DOI | 10.1176/appi.ps.201400587 |
Alternate Journal | Psychiatr Serv |
PubMed ID | 26620289 |