This paper reports the results of a study of community acceptance of housing for the mentally ill in Maryland. The findings indicate that community opposition is less likely to occur (1) when establishing apartmental living arrangements rather than group homes, (2) in less organized neighborhoods, (3) where other housing for specialized populations has not been previously developed, and (4) by using a
low profile
strategy which avoids informing community members in advance of start-up.
This study was supported by a grant from the Maryland Dept. of Human Resources (DHR). The authors thank Sotiorios Spiliades, Director, Project Home, DHR, and Scott Uhl, Director, Departmant of Community Support, Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, for their assistance with the project. Graduate students who assisted in various stages of the study were: Ann Albersheim, James Barden, Laura Blount, Victoria Borden, Karen Graig, Gary Flanigan, Donna Geller, Steve Janes, Melvin Kirk, Simeon Kolko, Nano Kolla, Skirly Korth, Kathleen Lindenmayer, Laura McLelland, Deborah Rammelmeier, Stacey Scannell, Robert Schneider, and Daria Tudor.