How mental health issues impact on homelessness and housing

On World Mental Health day it is worth remembering that 1 in 4 people in UK will suffer from mental ill health at some point in their lives. People with poor mental health can experience problems finding and maintaining suitable accommodation, yet having a home is often the foundation upon which recovery must be built.

How can mental health problems can impact on housing

A Housing Rights Service adviser recently helped a client who had mental health difficulties. The client's aging mother felt unable to continue to care for both herself and her son. She wanted to move out of the housing association property in which they both lived, and allow her son to remain there. However the housing association would not assign the tenancy to him, stating that the client did not have the requisite mental capacity.

We challenged this, with our adviser pointing out that the landlord had failed to make reasonable adjustment as required by the Disability Discrimination Act. If the client remained in that accommodation, he would have a full time carer and an appointee to manage his affairs. Our challenge was successful, and the client was able to remain in the accommodation.

Find out more about mental health and housing and the help available

To consider more fully the housing issues facing those with mental health difficulties we are running a one day training course on Mental Health & Housing on 3rd December in Belfast and 4th  December in Derry /Londonderry. This course looks at the difficulties those affected by mental ill health can experience with regards to accessing and maintaining housing, and the support available to help remedy such difficulties.