[Residential care and regional psychiatric care:]

In Linz, capital of the province of Upper Austria, there is a considerable shortage of supported housing. Yet the rate of places available reaches 0.9/1000 inhabitants, thus already exceeding the recommended number.

A comprehensive investigation was started concerning all persons living in supported housing facilities. Services for psychiatric patients (n = 190) were included as well as services for homeless persons (n = 159).

Only 41 % of the psychiatric patients and 31 % of the homeless people actually belonged into the region. Also among those who have been living less than one year in the facility, 45 % of the psychiatric and 67 % of the homeless persons come from outside, thus indicating, that the migration of patients is still going on. Among the homeless 69 % were mentally ill. While in the psychiatric services schizophrenic and affective psychoses were predominant, addictive disorders prevailed in the services for the homeless.

It is the aim of mental health services in Upper Austria to care for the patients within their home regions. All regions are providing a fair amount of places for supported housing. Despite this a considerable number of patients keeps coming to the provincial capital. The causes and consequences of this process are discussed.