Implementing Peer-Assisted Case Management to Help Homeless Veterans with Mental Illness Transition to Independent Housing

Abstract

Formerly homeless mentally ill veterans are at an important crossroads when they move from living in an institutional setting such as a shelter or supportive residential facility to independent living. We hypothesized that peer advisors, veterans with severe mental illness who had been homeless previously, graduated from a Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program, and subsequently maintained independent, stable housing could assist other veterans make a successful transition to independent living. Pilot data suggests that participants who received peer advisors were more likely to follow up with assessments than were controls. In this report, we describe a pilot peer advisor program, its implementation, and pilot data on program administration.