Does supported accommodation improve the clinical and social outcomes for people with severe psychiatric disability? The Project 300 experience.

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the clinical and social outcomes for a group of individuals (n = 181) discharged into supported accommodation from three long-stay facilities in Queensland.
Method: Data were collected prospectively using a battery of standardized measures and individual interviews at 6 weeks pre-discharge and again at 6, 18, 36, and 84 months post-discharge.
Results: While there was little functional gain at follow up, the clients, as a group, did not deteriorate. Sixty per cent of the clients were engaged in some form of structured community activity and the need for hospitalization decreased significantly in the follow-up period. The ongoing costs of the programme, while remaining high, were significantly less than inpatient alternatives.
Conclusion: The provision of community accommodation with adequate clinical and non-clinical support is a suitable option for a large proportion of individuals with serious mental illness.