Abstract:

The Victorian Housing and Support Program is an inter-departmental program that provides permanent public housing to people with serious psychiatric disability. This evaluation of the program is an in-depth case-study of the experiences of people living within the program, in order to identify the particular needs expressed by its tenants. It also aims to describe the changes in people's quality of life which are related to being in this housing. The evaluation is based on two rounds of interviews with 39 tenants and 11 support workers. Eight people from other housing were also interviewed. The interviews showed that the people living in Housing and Support Program accommodation were highly satisfied with the support they received and with the housing they lived in. The evaluation demonstrates that the housing and support components of the program work well together and need to be formally linked in all other housing programs for people with psychiatric disability. Recommendations are offered about the possible future directions for the Housing and Support Program.