Finding Affordable House While Living with a Mental Disability

       

 

 

 

 

         For my third blog I chose to focus on the rights and issues of persons with mental disabilities, and the struggles they encounter while looking for proper housing, or living in group homes. I chose to mainly focus on those who suffer from being mentally challenged. For those living with mental health disabilities it can be difficult to find and hold down living establishments due to issues such as stigma, negative attitudes, second class citizenship, affordable housing, lack of basic life skills, and accesibility to the home as well as community. These issues directly impact ones ability to rent, own, or keep their own house, or apartment in the community. I was sad to discover that even those who are mentally challenged, who are living within community based group homes, are not garunteed a spot in their homes permanently. Group homes can move or discharge residence depending on circumstances. Further more for the majority of people with serious mental illness, who rely on provincial income support, the private rental housing market is beyond their financial means. (Mental Health Association of Canada).

            For a majority of people who are mentally challenged in Ontario it can be difficult to find suitble work due to factors such as stigma, restirctions on what they as a human can handle physically, negative attitudes, maajority only being able to work part time etc. Although a majority due receive a monthly cheque titled the Ontario Disability Supplement Pay (ODSP) from the governement, these chques even when combined with part time work leave the population with a low income. For those who are not living in community based group home and are able to live on their own low income can be an incredible issue. Receiving such a low income makes it difficult for this population to find housing that is affordable for them, if they are not able to live in a community group home. Further into the issue of low income, well needing to be able to afford rent on such a budget, persons would also need to afford food, possibly hydro and water, furniture, other esstentials etc. which can be difficult to manage. Accessibility also ties in with these issues, and makes it difficult to find a suitable living area. For example a majority of persons with a mental disability have been deamed unsuitable to operate a motor vehicle, which in turn requires them to live in an area of a community that is close enough to public transportation to be accessed easily. Another example may be if one struggles with stairs, lifting, etc. it can be difficult to find a house or apartment that is suitable a minimizes the risks associated, and it can be even more difficult to find a landlord who is willing to rent to tenanent who poses issues. Finally for those living with a mental disability who are living on their own who struggle with basic life skills such as cooking, cleaning, or basic hygene may need to hire someone to come into their homes to assist them if family or friends are unavailable which can add to their cost of living. This again ties in with the issues of low income. Housing is a basic requirement for good health. Decent, safe and affordable housing contributes to our physical and mental well-being. For people with serious mental illnesses, a safe and affordable home can be a place to live in dignity and move toward recovery (Canadian Mental Health Association).

 

            Throughout the 1970’s housing programs began to arise. New community-oriented residential facilities (CRFs) were developed which, by 1977, housed more than 60,000 mentally retarded people (Sterling & Garrard 1982). These houses are still available in communities today, however updated to fit into today’s society. An example of one would be the Sudbury Developmental Services which has several group homes located all over the city of Greater Sudbury. However as mentioned before even this form of residence is not considered permanent for those who live there. A number of circumstances can mean removal from the group homes all together, or transfer from one home to another. For those who live with a mental disability a change from one home to the next can have serious impacts on their well being. Further more a change in a group home when it pertains to staff changes, changes in routine etc. can also have a severe impact on ones well being. Over time, "good" community places can become "bad," perhaps because of changes in staff commitment, administrative style or support, and day-to-day opportunities (both real and perceived) for engagement with and control over the environment (Landesman & Butterfield 2003). The challenges of finding proper employment still exist while living within these group homes, however I feel that while living in these homes although it is not permanent decreases the worry of things such as low income, basic life skills, accessibility, stigma, etc. Although the stigma still exists outside the home within the community, inside the home they are living with people who will not judge them, and working with staff who are their to help them not judge them. Although living in the group homes is not free, it is less expensive then living on their own because they do not need to worry about food, essentials, high rent, etc. As well with accessibility and basic life skills, these homes are designed to help people with mental disabilities, and majorities are designed with wheel chair accessibility and features to help with any other form of disability. Transportation to and from appointments, events, or work is provided for those who reside in these homes. However these establishments are not perfect either and have issues as well. These issues can be related to staff, or residents who do not get along, residents can be violent at times, 5 people with disabilities all living together can pose a challenge, etc. An example may be one resident having an issue with a routine change, and becoming violent, and yelling. This behavior can upset the other residents and cause the course of their day to be off and causing them to become upset or have behavioral issues as well.

Referances:

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-human-rights-and-rental-housing

http://www.cgsds.ca/

http://www.cmha.ca/

 

Picture: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/make-your-home-handicap-accessible-1a.jpg

Sterling & Garrard. (Nov. 1982). Health Services for Mentally Retarded People in Community Residences:Problems and Questions. In AJPH. Retrieved Nov.14, 2012, from Vol. 72. No. 11 p. 1226-1229.

 

Landesman & Butterfeild. (2003). Normalization and Deinstitutionalizationof Mentally Retarded IndividualsControversy and Facts. In Child Development and Mental Retardation Center,. Retrieved Nov.14, 2012, from Vol. 42, No. 8, 809-816.

Erica