States' strategies for promoting supported housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities

Survey data were used to analyze state government efforts to promote supported housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities in five states--Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. States worked to increase mental health service consumers' access to affordable housing by increasing the number of state staff who address housing issues, by developing housing units, and by increasing consumers' income. Legislative mandates and financial incentives were used to encourage service providers to offer more flexible support services. States promoted consumers' involvement in the mental health system by encouraging their participation in state-level decision making and by providing financial support to consumer organizations.