Mental Health Supported Housing....

[Alone and Scared]

Hey guys,

I'm just wondering whether anyone on here has ever experiences Supported Housing in relation to their mental health. I have a few options open to me at the moment and I want to look at them further, but I'd also like opinions.

A&S. x

[whirlpools]

I'm just coming to the end of a two-year tenancy with mental health supported housing. If you have any questions, ask away.

[Alone and Scared]

Aw ace!

Okay, I'll ask them here but if you don't feel able to answer them then that's totally okay so please don't feel you have too - annnnnnd even more so, if you don't want to answer them on the board feel free to PM me! :-)

Okay, firstly - is it with an organisation? How is the setting - like, erm, do you have your own bathroom and kitchen or are you actually 'within' the same flat area as other people? Is it difficult living with people who are very, very poorly? Also, were they similar issues to yours, or a complete mix? How did you find the support? What ways did they support you? How did it work for you overall?

Please just tell me to shut up! x

[Rhea-Billie-Tate]

I'm also in supported housing right now, nearly halfway through a two year tenancy. Got to log off right now so don't have time to write a proper response tonight, but if you'd like someone else's experience to I'd be happy to reply properly tomorrow.

[Steel Maiden]

I've been in supported accommodation for over a year and will be staying for another three years if university goes well

The two other women that live here are very quiet and polite. The carer is alright here (the carer in my old accommodation was a bit of a drunkard)

I get my own bedroom which is big enough for me to do my studies in. We share the living room, kitchen and bathroom

Housing benefit covers most of my rent but I do have to pay some of it from my bank account

The house is small but there's only three of us here so I guess that's ok

The carer comes in every evening for half an hour to check that everyone's ok. Sometimes his wife comes around and teaches one of us how to cook something new

I am allowed visitors between 10am and 10pm, so my best friend often comes around after work and we cook dinner together

No alcohol allowed on the premises but that's a good thing in my opinion

If you want to know any more, PM me

[Alone and Scared]

Hey Steel Maiden - Thank you loads for your reply! Can I just ask, does the carer live there 24/7? Or come and go? x

[Alone and Scared]

Oh oh and thank you for your reply to RBT! <3

[Steel Maiden]

Hey Steel Maiden - Thank you loads for your reply! Can I just ask, does the carer live there 24/7? Or come and go? x

You're welcome. In the first supported accommodation I was on a high level of support so the carer lived in 24/7, but I'm on a lower level of support in this accommodation due to improvement of my mental health, so the carer only comes in for half an hour to an hour a day in the evening and sometimes during the day

[whirlpools]

Hello. I'm sorry I haven't replied until now.
In reply to your questions:
Okay, firstly - is it with an organisation? - The support side of the housing is run by social services. The housing itself belongs to a Housing Association.
How is the setting - like, erm, do you have your own bathroom and kitchen or are you actually 'within' the same flat area as other people? - For me, I have, in my flat, a large living/dining room with kitchen attached, a bedroom and a bathroom (see pics in the "show off your rooms" thread in the picture board if you're intereseted) in my own flat, but other supported housing in my area, everyone has their own bedroom but with shared living space.
Is it difficult living with people who are very, very poorly? - Very poorly people generally spend that part of their illness in hospital, and a lot of supported housing would require a risk assessment and general understanding that the tenant would keep themselves relatively safe as part of their signing up agreement. I have encountered very few problems, but as it's flats here, we're pretty much living on our own anyway.
Also, were they similar issues to yours, or a complete mix? - most of the people in mine have schizophrenia/psychosis/substance abuse problems. Not sure anyone else in mine has BPD but it's not unheard of. Supported housing in some areas actually has specialist self harm areas to it - in Bristol, I think.
How did you find the support? What ways did they support you? How did it work for you overall? - I struggled with my support staff in the early days, until they became more clear about my needs i.e. NO RANDOMLY WALKING INTO MY FLAT and no pestering me. Now it's a lot better. They're gently encouraging rather than forceful. They have supported me emotionally in crisis, socialised - lots of coffee, helped me to appointments, helped me cook, helped me with shopping and with correspondence/bills/phonecalls. They also liaise with my care team if they're concerned.

[laughingdoll]

Hey hun, I live in supported housing at the moment, but hopefully moving out within two weeks due to having improved &; expecting a baby so hopefully I can answer some of your questions. is it with an organisation? Yep, Mines with a company called Carr-Gomm. How is the setting - like, erm, do you have your own bathroom and kitchen or are you actually 'within' the same flat area as other people? Carr-Gomm, run two different types of units. They have some self contained flats & houses (so you each get your own flat/house) or they do a shared house, where you have to share with other people, but you get your own bedroom. I was lucky in the fact I just moved straight into one of the houses. Is it difficult living with people who are very, very poorly? The house next door houses someone who is poorly - & has different, and sometimes issues that i've found hard to deal with, but we have a number we can ring during the day if we have problems, and theres an emergency number, though they usually just call the police. Also, were they similar issues to yours, or a complete mix? A complete mix of issues are dealt with in this service - Next door has alcohol issues, where I have no alcohol issues, if that makes sense. How did you find the support? The support wasn't always brilliant - I get one hour a week, which suits me fine as I know if theres issues I could call them. I found they're support helpful, but also quite scary at times as if they felt i was unable to cope with looking after myself, they could request I get sectioned etc. What ways did they support you? I got support in having someone to talk to when I felt down, etc. I also got help with budgeting, and general settings of a house up - It was nice as it was my first place, alone, so if I didn't know something I had someone to ask. Also, when I was having issues with next door, there was a great support there. How did it work for you overall? I enjoyed it, but I do feel ready to move on - I can't stay here as i'm 23 weeks pregnant, but even If I could I would be happy to move now as I feel i've learnt skills on how to cope. Hope this helps - If you have any more questions, please feel to PM me. xx

[Alone and Scared]

Sorry I'm just going to pull little bits out of all of these and ask more questions, sorry for being annoying!

So, Steel - Is there only one carer then?

Laura - are they there constantly or are they there randomly?

Thank you LaughingDoll - Congratulations on your pregnancy. :-) It's ace that it's taught you the skills that you need in order to be able to move out and feel comfortable doing that, I think that's fantastic. So you lived in a place on your own with support at hand, rather than someone 'in' with you as such?

- I should probably explain my situation a little rather than just throwing questions at you guys.

Basically I have the option of moving into either fully supported or partially supported housing. Fully supported has a team of people within the building constantly, partially is in connection with this team but in a different place. The fully means sharing a flat - own bedroom but sharing everything else, and the partially means living in my own flat on my own.

Now, whilst I'd very much prefer living on my own rather than sharing, as my OCD is going to hate it, it'd be very risky and I know I'm probably not ready for that and I'd rather not fall backwards - and I know it could end very, very badly. Fully supported would be better because there is always someone there, it's not going to be as isolated etc - however, sharing is an issue.... At the same time, it'd be a drastic change and behaviourally it'd be a challenge and that might be a positive thing.

At the same time I'd quite like to just remain at home and be 'Little A&S' rather than having to fight against all this and become something more because I am totally terrified!

So yeah, I hope that makes sense!! x

[Steel Maiden]

There are two carers, husband and wife, but only one of the two comes each night

[Alone and Scared]

Okay, thank you Steel. <3 I appreciate all your replies. xx

[laughingdoll]

Hey, Yeah I had a place where the people just came in to us instead of us having people on site as such & Thankyou for the congrats, much appreciated! :) x

[Steel Maiden]

You're welcome