Housing Unlimited Inc. evaluation: Examining the supported housing model through measures of quality of life, symptom severity, and costs

The supported housing model---a model different from the traditional continuum of care---is a semi-new approach to housing consumers of mental health services. This study is an evaluation of a supported housing agency. Twenty-six agency tenants and 23 prospective tenants (PT) were interviewed 3 times over 1 year. Instruments included the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Quality of Life Interview-Brief (QOLI-B), and an internally developed questionnaire about current housing. BSI scores were consistent with scale-provided outpatient norms. Novel cost analyses examined percentage of volunteered/donated resources the agency received (46% of total expenditures) and percentage of tenant contribution (38%)---the value of the agency's dollar goes a long way. The results suggest supported housing maintains quality of living. Tenants were more satisfied with their quality of living, had higher rates of employment, had a greater disposable income, and were financially able to contribute more toward their place of residence than PT.