Substance Use and Social Networks after Moving into Permanent Supportive Housing

This National Institutes of Health-sponsored longitudinal study investigates health and well-being among over 400 people experiencing homelessness transitioning into permanent supportive housing (PSH) in Los Angeles County. While most PSH programs do not require abstinence (i.e., are implemented using a Housing First model), little is known about how substance use changes as persons move from homelessness into housing. This presentation aims to describe substance use and social relationships among persons during their first year in PSH, and subsequently discuss how providers can use these data to inform successful harm reduction programs that incorporate social networks.