High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review
IntroductionMental health supportive housing aims to provide accommodation and support services to people with serious mental illness (SMI). Various supportive housing models have emerged in Canada post-deinstitutionalization, with heterogeneous and limited available information on congregate-based...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612516/full |
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| author | Alexandra Sosnowski Mariana Ravazolli Martins Eric A. Latimer Eric A. Latimer Frank Sirotich Frank Sirotich Julia Woodhall-Melnik Nick Kerman Vicky Stergiopoulos Vicky Stergiopoulos |
| author_facet | Alexandra Sosnowski Mariana Ravazolli Martins Eric A. Latimer Eric A. Latimer Frank Sirotich Frank Sirotich Julia Woodhall-Melnik Nick Kerman Vicky Stergiopoulos Vicky Stergiopoulos |
| author_sort | Alexandra Sosnowski |
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| description | IntroductionMental health supportive housing aims to provide accommodation and support services to people with serious mental illness (SMI). Various supportive housing models have emerged in Canada post-deinstitutionalization, with heterogeneous and limited available information on congregate-based high support housing models (HSH) that provide 24/7 onsite supports. A registered scoping review was undertaken to identify the models and outcomes of HSH for people with SMI in Canada, including those exiting homelessness.MethodsFour academic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus) were searched, in addition to backward and forward citation searching and strategies for identifying grey literature. HSH configurations and outcomes (e.g., housing stability and preferences; physical and behavioral health; community integration, social support, and quality of life; costs) were investigated within the Canadian context.ResultsA total of 27,180 academic articles and 164 grey literature reports were initially screened. Following full-text review of 337 academic and 109 grey literature articles, and citation searching, a total of 58 academic articles and 31 grey literature reports were included in the review. The characteristics, objectives, and outcomes of HSH models were mixed. Three nonexclusive types of HSH were identified: [1] custodial HSH, [2] recovery-oriented HSH, and [3] alternatives to hospital programs and other institutions. Most studies were uncontrolled, though there was preliminary evidence to support improvements in HSH residents' health and functioning; gains in social support, quality of life, and community integration; reductions in housing and service costs, particularly when compared to the cost of inpatient hospitalization; and satisfaction with living arrangements, supports, and relationships. However, the findings were not unequivocal, and the diversity of methodologies and HSH models limited further comparisons of outcomes between the different types of HSH.ConclusionPeople with SMI experiencing complex and diverse needs can benefit from the services and supports provided by HSH. However, research on HSH is less developed compared to other, well-studied housing interventions. Further research on congregate housing settings, including their long-term outcomes and recovery-oriented practices, is warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-516f7e64b9bf4487be22a2a65723c850 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-516f7e64b9bf4487be22a2a65723c8502025-08-20T02:21:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-06-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.16125161612516High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping reviewAlexandra Sosnowski0Mariana Ravazolli Martins1Eric A. Latimer2Eric A. Latimer3Frank Sirotich4Frank Sirotich5Julia Woodhall-Melnik6Nick Kerman7Vicky Stergiopoulos8Vicky Stergiopoulos9Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDouglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, CanadaCanadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch, Toronto, ON, CanadaFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Social Science, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaIntroductionMental health supportive housing aims to provide accommodation and support services to people with serious mental illness (SMI). Various supportive housing models have emerged in Canada post-deinstitutionalization, with heterogeneous and limited available information on congregate-based high support housing models (HSH) that provide 24/7 onsite supports. A registered scoping review was undertaken to identify the models and outcomes of HSH for people with SMI in Canada, including those exiting homelessness.MethodsFour academic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus) were searched, in addition to backward and forward citation searching and strategies for identifying grey literature. HSH configurations and outcomes (e.g., housing stability and preferences; physical and behavioral health; community integration, social support, and quality of life; costs) were investigated within the Canadian context.ResultsA total of 27,180 academic articles and 164 grey literature reports were initially screened. Following full-text review of 337 academic and 109 grey literature articles, and citation searching, a total of 58 academic articles and 31 grey literature reports were included in the review. The characteristics, objectives, and outcomes of HSH models were mixed. Three nonexclusive types of HSH were identified: [1] custodial HSH, [2] recovery-oriented HSH, and [3] alternatives to hospital programs and other institutions. Most studies were uncontrolled, though there was preliminary evidence to support improvements in HSH residents' health and functioning; gains in social support, quality of life, and community integration; reductions in housing and service costs, particularly when compared to the cost of inpatient hospitalization; and satisfaction with living arrangements, supports, and relationships. However, the findings were not unequivocal, and the diversity of methodologies and HSH models limited further comparisons of outcomes between the different types of HSH.ConclusionPeople with SMI experiencing complex and diverse needs can benefit from the services and supports provided by HSH. However, research on HSH is less developed compared to other, well-studied housing interventions. Further research on congregate housing settings, including their long-term outcomes and recovery-oriented practices, is warranted.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612516/fullsupportive housinghigh support housinghousing firstmental illnesshomelessnessscoping review |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Sosnowski Mariana Ravazolli Martins Eric A. Latimer Eric A. Latimer Frank Sirotich Frank Sirotich Julia Woodhall-Melnik Nick Kerman Vicky Stergiopoulos Vicky Stergiopoulos High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review Frontiers in Psychiatry supportive housing high support housing housing first mental illness homelessness scoping review |
| title | High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review |
| title_full | High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review |
| title_short | High support housing for people with serious mental illness in Canada: a scoping review |
| title_sort | high support housing for people with serious mental illness in canada a scoping review |
| topic | supportive housing high support housing housing first mental illness homelessness scoping review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612516/full |
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