Blueprint for Change: Ending Chronic
Homelessness for Persons with Serious
Mental Illnesses and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders

Section II: Plan for Services

The needs of people with serious mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use disorders who are homeless cannot be addressed by a single service system. Indeed, both research and practice in recent years reveal that services for people with serious mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use disorders who are homeless must be offered as part of a comprehensive, integrated system of care. Partnerships with other providers and service systems can increase residential and clinical stability and prevent homelessness (Davis et al., 2002; Rosenheck et al., 1998).

Thus, community agencies that serve people with serious mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders who are homeless must work together to build a strong foundation for systems change and to secure the support needed to establish and maintain services. The next two chapters—Establish a Comprehensive, Integrated System of Care and Finance a Comprehensive System of Care—describe the steps necessary to help build those coalitions:

• Develop the infrastructure for systems change;
• Engage in strategic planning;
• Participate in community-wide planning;
• Streamline existing funding;
• Secure additional resources; and
• Leverage new funds.

Additional information on the materials cited in these chapters can be found in the References. Organizations that offer technical assistance in these areas are listed in the Resources section. 

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