Abstract:

The authors assert that housing people with a mental illness appropriately so that their illness is not exacerbated and empowerment and autonomy are fostered requires a relinquishment of professional power. The public health care professionals and policy makers need to adopt a new attitude to mental illness. The idea of the helpless psychiatric patient who needs the professional provision of mental health services must be replaced with a view of independent people with rights and responsibilities who require special support needs. Current living arrangements for people with a psychiatric disability are disempowering. One answer to this housing problem is community housing. The three major types of community housing models are described.