How can reentry initiatives address the behavioral healthcare needs of individuals who are homeless or in transitional housing upon release?
Individuals with behavioral health problems who are homeless or in transitional housing upon release benefit from assertive community treatment,* dual diagnosis programs, and supportive housing with on-site substance abuse and mental health services, access to medication, and social services. When contacted by social workers and healthcare professionals, whether in shelters or on the streets, outcomes for the homeless are improved. A study of homeless people who were contacted by social workers and healthcare professionals on the streets and in shelters revealed that even individuals with the most severe disorders and who were the most reluctant to accept treatment enrolled in services and showed improved outcomes when served by an outreach team.32 For people in transitional housing, providing supportive services is effective in achieving residential stability, improving mental health and recovery from substance abuse, and reducing the costs of homelessness to the community.
