[Homelessness Among People with Mental Illness - Using the Example of a Growing German City].

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the development of homelessness among people with mental illness using the example of a growing German city.

METHODS

Eight psychosocial community centres estimated how many of their clients had become homeless in the previous year of care from 2008 to 2019. A random effects negative binominal (RENB) regression model was developed to investigate the change of homelessness over time.

RESULTS

The number of homeless, mentally ill clients of the psychosocial community centres increased significantly from 2008 to 2019 (IRR=1.26; 95-CI=1.16-1.36; p<.001). Every year, homelessness had an average increase of 26%.

CONCLUSION

The problem of homelessness among mentally ill people has worsened in the investigated region during the past few years. Existing support services must be assessed and community-based support services expanded.