(PS7-D86) The Effects of Mental Health Services on Housing Stability in Omaha Public Housing

Individuals experiencing housing instability can encounter deficits in mental health from the stressful repercussions of constant moving, eviction, and homelessness (Tsai & Huang, 2018). Further, untreated mental health difficulties can contribute to risks for housing instability (Singh et al., 2019). Individuals living in public housing face structural barriers (e.g., no transportation, no finances) and stigmatic barriers in seeking mental health care (Singh et al., 2019). Through a partnership with the Omaha Housing Authority (OHA), we created mental health clinics in public housing towers. We provided mental health screenings, evidence-based psychotherapy, and community resource referrals for adult tenants residing in OHA public housing to address mental health in an effort to increase housing stability and decrease evictions. This feasibility study placed a licensed clinical psychologist at two housing towers accessible to tenants to reduce structural barriers (e.g., in the same building where tenants live, free care) in seeking mental health care. Our hypotheses were that by offering a mental health clinic in the housing towers themselves would be receptive to tenants and staff at the towers. In five months, we had 37 tenants (51.35% male, 48.65% female, 78.38% Black, 18.92% White, 2.7% African, 91.89% Non-Hispanic or Latino, 8.11% Hispanic or Latino, and average age = 46.19 [SD: 11.431]) participate. We had 58 encounters during this time frame. Tenants were asked if they were interested in participating in therapy services following a mental health screening. Tenants reported having conflicting work schedules, presenting language barriers, having substantial health and mobility issues as well as suspected stigma related hesitancy to receiving mental health services. Omaha Housing Authority Staff were interviewed by project coordinator to examine perceived strengths and barriers to participation. Staff reported reluctancy regarding signing up for appointments based on the stigma related to mental health. Tenants preferred walk-in appointments to maintain their anonymity with other tenants but were overall responsive to the access to mental health care and information. Staff also noticed an increase in participation, vulnerability, curiosity, and receptiveness to mental health services with time. In conclusion, providing a mental health clinic to tenants in public housing does appear to reduce structural barriers, but can increase stigmatic barriers that require additional forethought.

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   Singh, A., Daniel, L., Baker, & M., Bentley, R. (2019) “Housing Disadvantage and Poor Mental Health: A Systematic Review.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 262–272., doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.03.018.
   



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   Tsai, J., and Huang, M. (2018) “Systematic Review of Psychosocial Factors Associated with Evictions.” Health & Social Care in the Community, vol. 27, no. 3, doi: 10.1111/hsc.12619.