Permanent Supportive Housing Design Characteristics Associated with the Mental Health of Formerly Homeless Adults in the U.S. and Canada: An Integrative Review

Abstract

The built environment directly and indirectly affects mental health, especially for people transitioning from long-term homelessness to permanent supportive housing (PSH) who often experience co-occurring behavioral health challenges. Despite a rapid increase in PSH availability, little research examines influences of architecture and design within this context. This integrative review synthesized limited research on PSH design in the U.S. and Canada to identify built environment characteristics associated with PSH residents’ mental health, highlight gaps in the literature, and prioritize future research directions. A systematic search for peer-reviewed articles was conducted using nine databases drawing from multiple disciplines including architecture, environmental psychology, interior design, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and nursing. Seventeen articles met inclusion criteria. Study design, methodology, built environment properties, place attributes, and relevant findings were extracted and iteratively analyzed. Three domains relevant to architecture and design were identified related to home, ontological security, and trauma sensitivity; dwelling unit type, privacy, control, safety, housing quality and location, and access to amenities; and shared common space. Integrative review results emphasize the potential of architecture and design to contribute to improved built environment quality and mental health outcomes among PSH residents. Methodological limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.