I choose:
supportive housing for mental health and the economy
Did you know?
Every $10 invested in supportive housing results in an average savings of $21.72 across the health care, social services and justice systems.
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Affordable housing. We’ve heard about this issue time and time again.
Having a safe and stable place to live can help all of us lead productive and healthy lives.
But we’re not hearing enough about the social and economic benefits of another type of housing: supportive housing.
Supportive housing allows people who may need on- or off-site mental health or addictions supports to live independently in the community.
These supports are multidisciplinary and can include a social worker, nurse, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, peer support worker and addictions specialist.
Supports can also be socially-based such as homemaking and personal care, financial literacy, life skills and employment support.
Evidence indicates that:
- providing supportive housing as a key first step in treatment can help those living with even severe mental illness remain stably housed
- supportive housing leads to tremendous cost savings across health care, social service and the justice systems
“The economy and mental health and addictions are not mutually exclusive subjects,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario.
With an estimated 25 to 50 per cent of homeless people living with a mental health condition, this issue is important to many communities throughout Ontario.
If you have concerns about addiction, mental health or gambling addiction and are seeking treatment or information, contact ConnexOntario (Ontario’s treatment and information directory of services for mental health, addiction as well as other concerns).
