Housing environments and community adjustment of severely mentally ill persons

This study examined relationships between the quality and appropriateness of housing environments and community adjustment of 729 deinstitutionalized severely mentally ill clients in a state-wide community support service program. Environmental measures included ratings of the physical condition of the client's residence, its adequacy for six key life activities, and the overall appropriateness of the residential setting for the client. Community adjustment measures included global level of functioning, degree of maladaptive behavior and client's perceived quality of life. Evidence is presented that quality and appropriateness of housing environments significantly affect aspects of client's community adjustment outcomes over a nine-month period.