What are the benefits of a stable place to live?

Translation by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Hang - Laboratory Doctor - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

A stable, safe, affordable place to live will help us recover and limit hospital treatment, homelessness or even legal trouble. the law.

For people with mental health problems, it can be difficult to meet the basic need for a stable place to live. The lack of safe and affordable housing is becoming one of the barriers to recovery. When basic needs are not met, they fall into a loop: homeless - prison - shelter - hospital, from place to place. Having a suitable and safe place to live will bring stability to them, thereby gradually achieving the goal of treatment.
After you leave the hospital or come out of prison, you will face problems when you realize that you have nowhere to return to. Even if you don't have to go to medical facilities for treatment, finding an affordable place to stay can be difficult. Many people with serious mental health problems are living on welfare, at just 18 percent of median income. It is difficult for these people to find a suitable place for themselves.

A good place to live should have the following 4 criteria.
Housing needs to be suitable for income: An ideal place to live should not cost more than 30% of your income. Paying more can make it difficult for you to pay for needs like health care, food, or clothing. Many people with mental illness have low incomes. To meet housing costs, financial assistance is needed, such as government-sponsored rental assistance or rental subsidies. Choose a place to live with enough privacy: Be free to choose a suitable place to live, consider privacy as well as careability when choosing accommodation for people who are undergoing psychological treatment. Housing needs to meet basic needs (physical needs): If you have a mental illness as well as a disability, the accommodation needs some special design such as ramps (wheelchair) or flashing indicator light. In addition, they also have difficulty driving, so the accommodation must be near the treatment site, public places, especially where there are public transport. Non-discriminatory housing: The Fair Housing Act prevents discrimination in rental housing against people with disabilities. This means that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because of a disability. Besides, the landlord also needs to accept reasonable repairs to fit your needs.

Choose housing depending on your needs, from housing for people who want to live independently to where you are cared for 24/7. The right place to stay depends on whether you need help paying bills, cleaning, or making appointments. Choose a housing type that fits your individual needs to facilitate your recovery.
Types of housing available today include:
Fully-supported dormitory: This is the most supportive housing type for residents. Trained staff are available 24/7 to provide care and support with things like medication, daily living skills, meals, bill payment, transportation and treatment management. These dormitories provide their residents with bed space, closets and changing areas, bathrooms, and common living areas. This is the best type of housing for people with serious mental illnesses that may affect their ability to perform daily tasks. Partially assisted group homes: Some support is provided to residents, but staff are not available 24 hours a day. Residents can be left alone for a few hours and can call for help if needed. Those who choose to stay in these dormitories can carry out their daily tasks independently or almost independently, help with the cooking, cleaning and even a part-time job. or participate in the day's activities. Supportive housing: This type of housing is very limited in terms of support. The residents of these houses live almost independently and are not often visited by staff. However, they always have people to contact as well as resources available should problems arise. Rental housing: This type of housing is for a completely independent person. The individual may pay the full rent or be subsidized by a 3rd party, such as a government or a nonprofit agency. People who choose this type of housing can take care of all their basic needs such as cooking, cleaning, paying bills and managing their medications. They may also have a job and have or are looking for custody of children. Regardless of where you choose to live, you'll still need to work with a caseworker to manage and maintain work related to your recovery. Own home: Homeowners can live completely independently and manage their responsibilities in daily life in caring for and maintaining a home. They must be a long-term resident, longer than the tenants, and participate in community activities. Homeowners are usually regular earners who can handle their bills and keep paying taxes and insurance on their home. In short, the lack of housing that meets safety and affordable criteria will be a barrier to the recovery of the patient's health and psychology. On the contrary, having a suitable and safe place to live will bring stability to them, thereby gradually achieving the goal of treatment.

Translated from: naminorthwoods.org