Importance of housing for mental health highlighted on Oct 10

As individuals and organizations recognize World Homelessness Day and World Mental Health Day on Oct 10, we are reminding the community that housing is key to the recovery for many people with mental health and/or addiction issues.

Individuals with serious mental health conditions or struggles with addiction frequently identify income and housing as the most important factors in achieving and maintaining their health. Studies show that people who are homeless are more likely to experience compromised mental health and mental illness than the general population. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, between 25 to 50 per cent of the homeless population in Canada live with a mental illness(es). The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gaps in housing, making it even more difficult to find and maintain affordable housing for people living with mental illnesses and addictions.

We offer a variety of housing supports across Thames Valley, including supportive, congregate and independent housing for adults as well as youth. We offer a variety of shorter term and longer term housing options to support people living with and recovering from mental illness. Length of stay is often determined by individual needs. We’re here when you need us the most. We hope to reduce those barriers so that your housing doesn’t get in the way of getting and staying well.

CMHA Ontario continues its efforts to promote the need for housing in general and supportive housing in particular for people with lived experience of mental illness. CMHA Ontario has called for increased investments in housing, as well as the need to reduce barriers to housing as one way to reduce the overall costs to health care, police and justice, and social services sectors.