Finding housing puts control back in the lives of homeless

 

By JOHN FROONJIAN - Special Reports Unit

Published: Sunday, October 2, 2005

Advocates for the mentally ill say that new approaches to treating homelessness make them optimistic about reducing the problem.

Past programs have required the homeless to stop drinking, become drug-free and take medication or treatment to qualify for housing. Many of the homeless simply returned to the streets.

But recent research shows that if the homeless are provided housing without many restrictions, they often decide on their own to reduce destructive behavior.

Studies show that stress decreases after homelessness ends, said Judith Samuels of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in New York. Housed individuals feel empowered to control their lives and start making better choices, she said.

Acting Gov. Richard J Codey has proposed borrowing $200 million to create, over 10 years, 10,000 affordable housing units for the mentally ill.

Advocate Deborah DeSantis said a University of Pennsylvania study found it costs $20,000 to $25,000 a year to provide housing coupled with services. It costs as much as $150,000 to house someone in a state institution.

Codey's proposed bond act has not yet been proposed as legislation.

Officials with the Governor's Task Force on Mental Health, which is identifying the needs of the state's mentally ill, said a range of housing types with different levels of supervision is needed.

Options include group homes and supportive housing linked with services. But a major goal is to provide housing that is as least restrictive as possible.

Around 1990, psychologist Sam Tsemberis ran a homeless outreach program in New York City. The sick people he tried to treat returned to the streets. He started asking homeless men in the subways what they wanted. It wasn't treatment. They wanted housing.

"They were not resistant to being in treatment, but treatment was not a priority for them," Tsemberis said.

He secured a grant, then offered apartments to hardcore homeless individuals. Tsemberis told the men not to destroy the apartments, but they could drink or do what they wanted and not worry about losing their homes. Treatment was available, but it wasn't required as a condition for keeping the apartments.

"They were still mentally ill and addicted. But they were no longer homeless," Tsemberis said.

"They are not the same problems. Homelessness is about housing. Mental illness is about treatment."

"Once the homeless were not competing on the streets, they could focus on their personal needs," said John McLernon, social services director for Atlantic County.

The formerly homeless were grateful, Tsemberis said, and became more open to treatment. Many reduced or ended their substance abuse.

In 1992, Tsemberis founded Pathways to Housing, which houses more than 500 mentally ill people around New York. Tenants pay some rent. About 70 percent are in treatment, Tsemberis said, and 85 percent have stayed off the streets.

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