Polcin DL, et al. – The researchers motive behind this study was to evaluate changes in housing status among sober living recovery houses (SLHs) residents over eighteen months and the relative influences of housing status and psychiatric distress on substance abuse outcomes. They found that individuals entering SLHs showed improvement in housing status and psychiatric distress, both of which are related to better substance abuse outcomes.

Methods

• For this purpose, 241 men and fifty-eight women, all age 18 and older, were interviewed within their first week of entering 20 SLHs and again at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up. 

Results

• The results of this study showed that between entry into the SLHs and 18-month follow-up homelessness declined from 16% to 4%, marginal housing declined from 66% to 46%, and stable housing expanded from 13% to 27%.  
• Findings revealed that psychiatric severity was generally mild to moderate in severity, but nevertheless demonstrated improvement over the 18-month study period.
• Multivariate models demonstrated worse substance abuse outcomes for residents with higher psychiatric distress and unstable housing.
• Relative to persons with stable housing, the individuals who were homeless or marginally housed had worse results and those in SLHs had better results.