Chorus for Community Integration and Recovery for Men with Psychiatric Disabilities in a Supportive Housing Community

ABSTRACT

This study reports the findings from a mixed-methods evaluation of the effectiveness of a choral program for 34 homeless men with substance abuse and mental illnesses. The evaluation focused on the chorus experience as one way to promote community integration and recovery. Fifteen residents (44.1%) were chorus members (CMs), and their responses were compared with those of 19 nonmembers (NCMs). When examining the quantitative data only, significant differences were not found between CMs and NCMs. However, narrative data and participant observation revealed that the choral program may have helped CMs improve their subjective experience of community integration by enhancing psychosocial components.

KEYWORDS:

• chorus
• community integration
• homeless
• psychiatric disabilities
• recovery
• resiliency

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee

Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee, MSW, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Social Work, where she conducts research and teaching in community mental health and gerontology.

Susanna Pantas

Susanna Pantas is an MSW candidate at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Social Work, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Courtney Coyle

Courtney Coyle is an MSW candidate at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Social Work, Charlotte, North Carolina.