Abstract
This research examined two premises of supported housing: (a) that consumer choice/control over housing and support and the quality of housing are important contributors to the subjective quality of life and adaptation to community living of people with mental illness, and (b) that apartments provide mental health consumers with more choice/control over housing and support than group living arrangements. To test these two hypotheses, we collected data from participants with mental illness housed through a government initiative in Ontario, Canada. A total of 130 participants completed a baseline interview, and 91 of those participants also completed a follow-up interview 9-months later. Support was found for both hypotheses. The results were discussed in terms of the paradigm of supported housing, previous research, and implications for housing policy and program development in the community mental health sector.
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Acknowledgements
The research was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through a grant from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation. We would like to thank John Trainor, Peter Ilves, Roslyn Shields, and Taryn Ready for their contributions to this research.
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Nelson, G., Sylvestre, J., Aubry, T. et al. Housing Choice and Control, Housing Quality, and Control over Professional Support as Contributors to the Subjective Quality of Life and Community Adaptation of People with Severe Mental Illness. Adm Policy Ment Health 34, 89–100 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0083-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0083-x