Housing represents a fundamental human need that provides shelter and stability, which is particularly important for individuals living with mental health conditions. Mental illness, by definition, is enduring, inflexible, creates significant distress or disability in one or more aspects of life, and causes problems with thoughts, feelings, and/or behavior. This can make finding appropriate living situations challenging. Fortunately, various housing and treatment options exist to support individuals with mental health needs, ranging from independent living arrangements to structured residential treatment programs.
Types of Housing for the Mentally Ill
When conceptualized broadly, "housing" encompasses having a stable place to live and meet basic human needs. Homes for the mentally ill can take different forms depending largely on the severity of the illness and individual needs:
- Fully independent living, whether alone or as a single parent, managing mental health care autonomously
- Fully independent living with a partner and possibly children to care for, while managing mental health care autonomously
- Living with informal assistance, such as in the home of a family member
- Living with formal assistance individually
- Living with formal assistance in a group home with other people with mental illness and around-the-clock assistance from a professional in the broad field of mental health care
- Living with formal assistance in a program that involves the use of single apartments that are part of a service
Formal housing programs for the mentally ill generally consist of two main types: group homes and individual housing. Individual housing within formal programs is known as supportive housing. Some supportive housing is considered under the umbrella of group housing because it involves a single, official program within a community that houses many people with mental illness; however, supportive housing is simultaneously considered individual since people live in separate apartments.
In supportive housing programs, people live in individual apartments that may be part of a single complex or in individual apartments in different locations throughout the community. The latter is often called supported, rather than supportive, housing, but other than the location of the homes for the mentally ill, the services are the same. Those services involve 24/7 off-site support as well as crisis services.
Benefits of Supportive Housing
Research indicates that supportive housing programs provide measurable and impactful benefits for individuals with mental health conditions. According to studies, when living in supportive homes for the mentally ill, people experience:
- 57% fewer days per year in psychiatric hospitals
- 58% fewer visits to emergency rooms
- 50% lower rates of imprisonment
These statistics highlight the effectiveness of supportive housing in reducing acute care utilization and improving overall outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions. By providing stable housing with appropriate support services, these programs help prevent crises and promote long-term stability.
Residential Treatment Facilities
For individuals requiring more intensive support, residential treatment facilities offer structured care in homelike settings. The American Residential Treatment Association (ARTA) consists of 29 member facilities dedicated to providing extraordinary care to adults with mental illness. These facilities help restore mental health by providing optimal settings for healing and recovery.
ARTA member facilities offer residential mental health treatment for a variety of psychiatric conditions, including, but not limited to: - Bipolar disorder - Schizophrenia - Depression - Personality disorders - Mood disorders - Anxiety disorders - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Disorders combined with substance abuse
Residential treatment settings range from urban apartments to farm-based group homes. They vary in the services they offer, the psychiatric disorders they address, and their treatment approaches. To help individuals choose appropriate care, ARTA categorizes its residential mental health facilities into four types:
- Community-based residential facilities
- Farm-based therapeutic communities
- Psychiatric residential treatment facilities
- Specialized residential programs
Residential treatment offers high-quality, long-term mental health care within a structured, homelike setting that contributes to healing and a sense of community. This setting provides adults with mental illness several advantages over other mental health treatment environments, including continuous support, reduced stressors, and opportunities for developing social skills and independence.
Mental Health Resources and Hotlines
Beyond housing options, various resources are available for individuals experiencing mental health challenges:
Emergency Resources
- 911 for immediate emergencies
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
- Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 for mental health issues after a disaster
- Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1 for veterans in crisis
- National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) for those experiencing domestic violence
Treatment Resources
- findtreatment.gov – a confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories
- SAMHSA's National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U)
- Community health centers that provide mental health care
These resources can help individuals find appropriate treatment options, connect with support services, and access crisis intervention when needed.
Challenges in Finding Appropriate Housing
Despite the availability of various housing options, finding appropriate support can be challenging. Supportive housing programs are often competitive and may have long waiting lists. This can create barriers for individuals in immediate need of stable housing and support services.
The difficulty in accessing appropriate housing underscores the importance of early intervention, comprehensive care planning, and advocacy for increased resources and availability of mental health housing options.
Conclusion
Individuals with mental health conditions have a range of housing and treatment options available to them, from independent living with support to structured residential treatment programs. Supportive housing has demonstrated significant benefits, including reduced hospitalization rates, fewer emergency room visits, and lower imprisonment rates. Residential treatment facilities like those offered through ARTA provide specialized care for various psychiatric conditions in homelike environments.
When seeking appropriate housing or treatment, individuals can access various resources, including hotlines for immediate support and treatment locators for finding care. While challenges exist in accessing appropriate housing, understanding the available options and resources can help individuals navigate the system and find the support they need.