Partnerships for people with serious mental illness who live below the poverty line

Fifty-four persons with serious mental illness who were living below the poverty line were randomly divided into two groups. Members of one group received allowances and forgivable loans to raise them above the poverty line for one year. The others received some funds, but not enough to raise them above the poverty line. All participants selected one staff member from a consortium of supporting agencies to serve as a sponsor and another person to serve as an adviser to help them function better. For both groups hospitalization rates were significantly reduced, and quality of life in some domains improved.