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Halfway house residents: where do they go?
Journal of Community Psychology
|June 11, 1976
Summary
Most mentally ill patients successfully completing halfway house programs stayed near the facility. This proximity was linked to maintaining crucial supportive relationships formed during their stay, aiding community reintegration.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Community Mental Health
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Community-based nonmedical halfway houses serve as crucial transitional environments for individuals with mental illness post-release.
- Understanding post-residence relocation patterns is vital for assessing the long-term effectiveness of halfway house programs and community integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relocation patterns of former residents of mental health halfway houses after program completion.
- To identify factors influencing residents' decisions to remain in the vicinity of the halfway house.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted on three community-based nonmedical halfway houses.
- Data was collected from 60 successful ex-residents regarding their relocation destinations post-program termination.
Main Results:
- A significant majority (36 out of 60) of successful ex-residents relocated within one mile of their halfway house.
- This observed proximity was notably different from pre-residence locations, suggesting a deliberate choice to stay near the support network.
Conclusions:
- Continuance of established formal and informal supportive relationships is a primary factor in terminees remaining in the vicinity of halfway houses.
- Findings suggest that halfway house programs can foster community stability by facilitating the maintenance of social support networks, with implications for future program planning and treatment strategies.