Preventing recurrent homelessness among mentally ill men: A ''critical time'' intervention after discharge from a shelter

Objectives. This study examined a strategy to prevent homelessness among individuals with severe mental illness by providing a bridge between institutional and community care. Methods. Ninety-six men with severe mental illness who were entering community housing from a shelter institution were randomized to receive 9 months of a ''critical time'' intervention plus usual services or usual services only. The primary analysis compared the mean number of homeless nights for the two groups during the 18-month follow-up period, To elucidate time trends, survival curves were used. Results. Over the 18-month follow-up period, the average number of homeless nights was 30 for the critical time intervention group and 91 for the usual services group, Survival curves showed that after the 9-month period of active intervention, the difference between the two groups did not diminish. Conclusions. Strategies that focus on a critical time of transition may contribute to the prevention of recurrent homelessness among individuals with mental illness, even after the period of active intervention.