Mental Health Impacts on Housing
Have you ever had trouble maintaining your housing, or been kicked out of an apartment, shelter program, or other place you were staying, because of: a mental health issue or concern?
Research
“According to the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, social housing is housing that is community-sponsored (for example, by local faith groups, service clubs, YMCAs, other community organizations, or by municipalities). Supportive housing is typically available in the form of shared settings (converted houses, clustered apartments), and offers rehabilitation-oriented support to consumer/survivors to improve their community living skills” (Ontario Human Rights Commission).
“We heard examples of how social and supportive housing opportunities can support people’s right to housing and improve the lives of people with mental health disabilities and addictions. One Ottawa housing provider uses a harm-reduction model that allows people with addictions to stabilize. The rent-geared-to-income approach of social housing was described as responding to individual needs. Some social and supportive housing providers reported successfully working with tenants with mental health issues or addictions to accommodate their needs” (Ontario Human Rights Commission).
Data Source
All data is collected from the 2022 VI-SPDAT
Please note that all data is self-reported by individuals, which can result in underreporting of information.
What is the VI-SPDAT
The VI-SPDAT (Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool) is a survey administered to individuals to determine risk and prioritization when providing assistance to homeless and at-risk of homelessness persons. Data presented here is drawn from VI-SPDAT adult version 2 (Canadian) surveys completed with 155 individuals experiencing homelessness and seeking housing placement assistance from homelessness serving agencies in Brandon in 2022. These surveys were conducted as part of Brandon’s homelessness Coordinated Access system.
Reference
“11. Housing | Ontario Human Rights Commission.” Ohrc.on.ca, 2023, www.ohrc.on.ca/en/minds-matter-report-consultation-human-rights-mental-health-and-addictions/11-housing.
Mental Health Impacts on Housing in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Extreme poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 1990. While this is a remarkable achievement, one in five people in developing regions still live on less than $1.90 a day, and there are millions more who make little more than this daily amount, plus many people risk slipping back into poverty.
Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.