Promoting Consumer Choice and Empowerment through Tenant Choice of Supportive Housing Case Manager

Abstract

This paper presents findings from in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 31 formerly homeless tenants and nine direct service staff at a supportive housing site, where a structured process for matching tenants with case managers (“Tenant Choice”) was piloted in which tenants were offered the option of choosing their respective case managers. Tenant Choice aims to increase the opportunity for tenants to make choices that will enable them to have more control over their treatment and recovery and obtain the optimal match between tenant and case manager. This study sought to understand how tenants and staff experienced Tenant Choice, determine whether Tenant Choice was meeting its goals, and identify areas for improvement. The major themes identified were: (1) pre-existing satisfaction drove tenant choices; (2) personal qualities of case managers were valued by tenants over professional qualifications and work experience; (3) the views of tenants and staff differed regarding whether minimal contact versus extended contact leads to better choices and working relationships; (4) the option of choice was valued by tenants regardless of whether it led to a change of case manager; and (5) staff concerns failed to materialize.

Keywords:

• Choice
• empowerment
• homelessness
• mental health
• qualitative research

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend our gratitude and respect to our interviewees and the entire staff of the Tenant Choice pilot site, without whom this study would not have been possible.