Abstinence-Contingent Wage Supplements for Alcohol Use was designed to promote alcohol abstinence and employment among adults experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorder by providing financial incentives dependent on verified abstinence. During the six-month program period, unemployed participants could earn up to 20 hours per week of wages for engaging in job-seeking activities with an employment specialist, at $10 per hour. Employed participants could receive wage supplements for verified hours worked, capped at $8 per hour for up to 40 hours per week.

Ecologically-Based Treatment provided short-term housing assistance with intensive supportive services to young mothers experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders to facilitate stabilization. Participants received three months of rental and utility assistance and six months of supportive services, including strengths-based case management, HIV prevention, and clinical counseling for substance use and mental health needs using the Community Reinforcement Approach.

The program was evaluated in central Ohio. 

People experiencing homeless and substance use issues were eligible to enroll in a two-stage treatment program. During the first stage, participants were in day-treatment programming for 5.5 hours each weekday and resided in shelters or other temporary housing that participants secured through referrals to other agencies. Programming included group and individual therapy and coaching focused on helping participants address their substance use issues.

In the first two-month phase, intervention group participants were housed in Project H&ART residences and received group and individual therapy (one or two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Intervention participants were also required to attend AA or NA meetings daily. In the second two-month phase, intervention group participants primarily received case management designed to encourage them to search for employment and develop soft skills.

Throughout the program, intervention group participants lived in Project H&ART residences. In the first two-month phase, participants attended group and individual therapy (one to two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Intervention participants also attended AA or NA meetings daily, which was required. In the second two-month phase, intervention group participants primarily received case management, which encouraged them to search for employment and to develop soft skills.

Participants in the Housing Without Peer Support program were provided with community-based housing (apartment- or motel-based) and subject to random alcohol and drug testing. Participants were also required to monitor their use of substance abuse and rehabilitation services, as well as other services received in the community, twice per week. Services were generally unsupervised.

The intervention housed participants in substance- and cost-free Project H&ART residences. Residence managers who were themselves recovering from substance use disorders provided participants with support. They encouraged participants to set personal goals and build peer support networks. Participants were required to (1) remain alcohol and drug free (as determined by random drug tests), (2) attend weekly community meetings, and (3) inform residence managers twice weekly about any other community services received.