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Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 1/2007

01-01-2007 | Regular Article

Long-Term Housing and Work Outcomes Among Treated Cocaine-Dependent Homeless Persons

Authors: Stefan G. Kertesz, Ashley N. Mullins, Joseph E. Schumacher, Dennis Wallace, Katharine Kirk, Jesse B. Milby

Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Communities across the United States have initiated plans to end chronic homelessness. In many of these communities, addiction treatment programs remain the default point of entry to housing and services. This study examined the percentage of cocaine-using homeless persons (all with psychiatric distress) attaining stable housing and employment 12 months after entering a randomized trial of intensive behavioral day treatment, plus one of the following for 6 months: no housing; housing contingent on drug abstinence; housing not contingent on abstinence. Of 138 participants, the percentages with stable housing and employment at 12 months were 34.1 and 33.3%, respectively. Analyses suggested superior outcomes in trial arms that offered housing as part of the behavioral treatment. The majority of participants, however, did not achieve housing or employment, in part because of the limited capacity of the local housing programs to accommodate persons who had not achieved perfect abstinence. The findings demonstrate a helpful role for addiction treatment and suggest the need for services to support housing of persons who reduce but do not eliminate all substance use.
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Metadata
Title
Long-Term Housing and Work Outcomes Among Treated Cocaine-Dependent Homeless Persons
Authors
Stefan G. Kertesz
Ashley N. Mullins
Joseph E. Schumacher
Dennis Wallace
Katharine Kirk
Jesse B. Milby
Publication date
01-01-2007
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 1094-3412
Electronic ISSN: 2168-6793
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9041-3

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