Bringing Recovery into Diverse Groups through Engagement and Support

The BRIDGES program provided evidence-based permanent supportive housing and supported employment services to chronically homeless individuals with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders in Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties.  This final report about the BRIDGES program describes participants, the services they received and changes in key outcomes over a one year follow-up period. Housing improved among participants and rates of homelessness and unstable housing decreased after program enrollment. Employment also improved, but the proportion of clients employed remained low at 18 to 20 percent. Other promising findings include reduced use of outpatient emergency departments and fewer criminal charges among participants. As there was no comparison group for this study, findings should be interpreted as descriptive only and not net program effects.