The first-ever national study to examine Housing First programs looked at participants in three programs around the country, including DESC. Participants had high levels of housing stability: 84% were in housing after 12 months. The findings demonstrate that Housing First programs are successfully housing people with serious mental illness and that intensive, ongoing services and housing subsidies are a critical component. See the following two publications:
HUD: The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness – (July 2007)
Housing stability among homeless individuals with serious mental illness participating in housing first programs – Journal of Community Psychology (Vol. 37 | Issue 3, March 3, 2009