Measuring Success of Housing First in Maine: Logan Place
Date Published: April 6, 2006
On April 6, Governor John Baldacci joined tenants, Avesta Housing and Preble Street—the two nonprofit agencies who developed and operate Logan Place, Portland Mayor James Cohen, and Amanda Meader, the daughter of a Logan Place tenant to celebrate the first anniversary of Logan Place and commit his support for initiatives to reduce the personal tragedy and economic costs of homelessness, saying “It’s the right thing to do; it’s the right time, it’s cost effective, and it saves people’s lives.”
Portland Mayor James Cohen described the success of Logan Place with reports from the city that cite not only the decline in the number of nights the city had to use its overflow plan but also a dramatic decrease in the number of police calls involving tenants of Logan Place who were formerly homeless.
In terms of public emergency resources, there were a total of 175 emergency calls made for 11 individuals in the seven months before they moved to Logan Place, 42 calls for just one person. In the first seven weeks after those 11 people moved into Logan Place, there were only 11 calls. One person who had 42 calls in the previous seven months had only one call during his first two months at Logan Place. Only three tenants of 30 have spent any time in jail (5 nights) while at Logan Place.
For the individuals themselves, in addition to attending monthly tenants meetings and participating in community meals and activities such as movie night, bingo, and card tournaments, the changes are even more remarkable. One tenant landed a good full-time job at a local hotel. Another reconnected with his parents who join him for meals in our community room. A local attorney has been able to re-establish a relationship with her father after not seeing him since she was a teenager. One tenant has joined the local neighborhood association. One has completed a volunteer training at the Animal Refuge League, and another is interviewing for volunteer work at a local senior citizens center.
Other positive outcomes include:
Connection to Mental Health Services
• 4 individuals, 3 who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, not previously taking psychotropic meds or connected to mental health services are currently accepting medication and accessing ongoing psychiatric care, case management services, and in-home supports
• 1 person, discharged to Logan Place from a psychiatric hospital, has been able to remain stable and continues to take antipsychotic medications and accesses ongoing psychiatric care and case management services.
• 4 individuals are better connected to mental health services, including private therapy and mental health case management.
Harm Reduction
Of the 13 individuals who are active substance abusers:
• 3 have voluntarily accessed alcohol detox and treatment programs
• 1 is considering participation in a long-term treatment program
• 9 have decreased their alcohol consumption 25-50%
For those persons experiencing a decrease in alcohol use,
Increase in Income
• 3 tenants are currently earning wages, one full time and three part time.
• 3 persons with zero income have applied for and received SSDI benefits.
• 5 other persons are at various stages in the process of applying for SSDI benefits.
• One person, who qualifies for VA disability benefits, is currently applying for his entitlement; and a second, who is receiving only partial benefits, is now applying for the full benefits to which he is entitled.
Reconnection to Family
The opportunity for families to be a source of support has increased markedly due to the stability of the tenants’ housing. Eleven tenants have received visits from family, and all visitors have seen improvement in the lives of their family members. Some family members join tenants for community meals and activities and have expressed appreciation for the ability to connect and share a greater part of the tenants’ lives.
