Persons with mental illness often do not have the freedom to choose the type of housing they prefer because service providers control housing now designated for them and affordable housing, separated from services, has not been encouraged, understood or available. Each person should have the right to choose housing best suited to their needs, abilities, and interests. Consequently, we must promote barrier free, affordable, supportive housing separate from services. A choice of barrier-free, affordable, decent, permanent housing. Access to a flexible and responsive system of community supports that will assist consumers to maintain independence and a lifestyle of their choosing.
Community supports are essential to the success of supportive, independent housing.
While they may vary in intensity from time to time, the need for these supports will be and therefore must be adequately and directly funded. The services include, but are not limited to, case management, linkage to community systems, rehabilitation, job coaching, crisis intervention, treatment, medication management, and peer counseling. The focus of these supports is to promote recovery in the community and prevent the need for the person to be sent to an institution. Because involvement in these activities is essential to recovery and the avoidance of reinstitutionalization, they should be encouraged and supported by a complementary housing policy. An additional reason to prevent institutional isolation is that isolation itself is a cause of stigma and therefore hinders recovery.