Evaluation of a transitional residential programme for homeless chronically mentally ill people

This paper reports a successful transitional programme in the USA. The research programme evaluation covered 5.5 years and 228 severely and persistently mentally ill homeless clients who lived in a transitional residential centre. Forty-eight per cent of the residents achieved the Programme's goals of obtaining and maintaining permanent housing and a disability pension or a job. Achievement of client goals was positively related to length of stay of 3 months or more, to five or more previous psychiatric hospitalizations, and to participation in two or more ongoing activities whilst in the programme. Psychiatric diagnosis was not directly related to goal attainment in this programme.