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Summary

Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support provided high-intensity services to adults who were experiencing homelessness who had alcohol use disorders to increase positive outcomes relating to substance use, residential stability, and employment. This evaluation directly compared Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support with a separate program of Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance to understand which of the two programs might be more effective; the distinctive features of Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support were high-intensity services, such as group and individual-level therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, and case management. 

In the first two-month phase, program group participants were housed in Project H&ART residences and received group and individual therapy (one or two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Program participants were also required to attend AA or NA meetings daily. In the second two-month phase, program group participants primarily received case management designed to encourage them to search for employment and develop soft skills. During this phase, individual counseling continued, and participants met with case managers as often as needed.

Eligible participants were adults experiencing homelessness who had alcohol use disorders; who lived  in or near Albuquerque, NM, for three months or more; and who did not have serious disabilities or dependent children. The program was four months long. 

The effectiveness of Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support compared with Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance indicates the effect of being referred to a set of services that include those unique to Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support, or how much better the offer of Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support meets participants’ needs than the offer of Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance. Both programs included low-intensity services such as community-based housing (in an apartment or motel) and random alcohol and drug testing, but supervised services, including housing with peer support, intensive counseling, AA and NA meetings, and case management were unique to Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support. This evaluation also examined Housing Without Peer Support and Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance compared with Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support.  

Populations and employment barriers: Homelessness, Substance use disorder

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
Low Low 1

Implementation details

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