According to the , upwards of 20-25% of the United States’ homeless population suffers from some form of severe mental illness. For homeless families, mental illness was mentioned by 12% of cities as one of the top 3 causes of homelessness (2008 survey by the US Conference of Mayors).
Research has shown that supported housing is effective for people with mental illness (National Mental Health Association, 2006). Successful supported housing programs include case management, outreach and engagement and other services to help people reintegrate into their communities.
The following is a story about a Cathedral Center client and her son who are now successfully living in supported housing.
Shirley (not real name) had been stable all her life, raising her teenage son, working at a local hospital and living with her family consisting of her sister and her niece. Shirley and her sister faced life together, a close-knit family. Tragedy hit their family unit when her sister was diagnosed with leukemia. With little resources available, Shirley had to leave her job to care for her dying sister. Her sister passed only a few months following diagnosis. Shirley’s savings quickly dwindled and she soon found herself, her son and her niece evicted from their apartment. Shirley was having a hard time emotionally and through treatment, was diagnosed with a schizotypal personality disorder.
When she came to The Cathedral Center, Shirley was being treated in therapy and medicated. Her goal was to be independent again. Caseworkers worked diligently to secure Shirley and her family housing and soon she was living in a duplex on Milwaukee’s north side. Unfortunately, shortly after being independently housed, Shirley stopped taking her medications, only attended therapy appointments sporadically and in a few months, found herself evicted once again.
Back at The Cathedral Center, caseworkers were able to work with Shirley reconnecting her with her psychotherapist who took a deeper look at the barriers preventing Shirley from maintaining stable housing. It was concluded that in order to be successful, Shirley needed supported housing services. Supported housing is different in that the client is enabled to focus on personal and life skills – crucial pieces to the puzzle of living independently – because housing is taken care of via structured programs.
Through the Cathedral Center’s collaboration with the Guest House of Milwaukee, we were able to connect Shirley with their Homelinc III permanent, supported housing program. She was accepted and is now living independently. She has a case manager who is on call 24/7 providing the support she needs so that she and her family will never be homeless again.
Successful supported housing programs include case management, outreach and engagement and other services to help people reintegrate into their communities.