Date of Conferral

7-23-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Benita Smith

Abstract

This systematic literature review and quantitative meta-analysis focused on homelessness for severely mentally ill (SMI) individuals with such conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar, and major depressive disorders. The conceptual groundwork for the study was based on humanism as expressed in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The research question explored whether there was a relationship between Housing First program interventions and outcomes for the SMI client in housing programs for the unhoused. The interventions identified were Housing First, transitional housing with and without case management, and standard treatment. The outcomes identified were mental health symptoms measured by symptom scales, emergency services use, quality of life scales, hospitalizations, and length of time housed. Meta-analysis of the eight studies meeting the criteria for inclusion demonstrated that many programs addressed homelessness but did not explicitly highlight specific interventions for the needs of the SMI individual. Interventions were identified through regression modeling that produced the best outcomes for unhoused individuals who have SMI and ascertained statistically significant differences in individual outcomes in comparison with the groups that received treatment as usual. The outcomes with the most frequencies were stable housing periods, assertive community treatment, and symptom reduction, showing a small but significant effect of d=0.23, p=0.74, with a CI 95%. The results may provide policymakers and program developers with useful information that can be used to contribute to policies and program development that more effectively address the specific needs of individuals with SMI and thus contribute to positive social change.

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