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Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Home Page
Evidence-Based Practice Initiatives
Contact Information
275 E. Main Street 4WG
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4456
Fax: (502) 564-9010
Hours: Monday–Friday
8:00 am–4:30 pm ET


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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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Jason Bagley
(502) 564-0824

Evidence-Based Supported Housing

Supported housing is defined as appropriate and affordable rental housing linked to the appropriate type and intensity of supportive services. Its purpose is to enable individuals and families with special needs to live independently in their communities.

An example of an evidenced-based practice is the Housing First program developed by Pathways to Housing, Inc., which is designed to end homelessness and support recovery for individuals who are homeless and have severe psychiatric disabilities and co-occurring substance use disorders.

It is more specifically defined by a set of core principles listed below:

  • Express empathy through reflective listening.
  • Develop discrepancy between clients' goals or values and their current behavior.
  • Avoid argument and direct confrontation.
  • Adjust to client resistance rather than opposing it directly.
  • Support self-efficacy and optimism.

Housing is viewed as central to recovery for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). Based on the 2009 Homeless Point-In-Time Count, 30.7 percent (1,230) of homeless respondents were severely mentally ill.

Of adults with SMI receiving services from Community Mental Health Centers, 1,203 had no fixed residence, a number that has been increasing for many years. The ultimate goals of the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) are to support the development of supported housing, to increase access to community services for adults with serious mental illness throughout the commonwealth, and to increase the number of persons who are stably housed.

(DBH) jointly funds a Supportive Housing Specialist position with Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), working to further integrate the housing needs of persons with mental illness into the state housing finance agency's programs. The Supportive Housing Specialist provides technical assistance and consultation to local nonprofits in developing housing projects.

(DBH) is also working in partnership with KHC and the local HUD Continuum of Care to promote the creation of additional supported housing units.

Use the Contact Information to obtain materials and further information.

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