Good accommodation is a basic human need and a comfortable home can enable people to feel safe and give them greater independence.

Everyone has the right to live in ordinary, mainstream housing. This means having a place to live in an ordinary everyday sense, where the building that you live in is not seen as different from any other in a local community or neighbourhood. It is also important to recognise that one should receive appropriate care and support when needed.

Most people with mental health needs live in mainstream accommodation – that is their own rented or owned home – and when necessary may be supported by their GP, a support group, friends and family or the specialist mental health services available.

"Good accommodation is a basic human need and a comfortable home can enable people to feel safe and give them greater independence."

Supported Housing

Some people need or prefer supported accommodation. This means the availability of appropriate care and support to the resident(s) of accommodation provided by, for example, a voluntary organisation or Housing Association. Such care and support may include help with practical tasks such as cooking, laundry, filling in forms, accessing services or emotional support. Supported housing should provide a service that is sufficiently flexible to take account of an individual’s needs and wishes. An individual may need supported housing on a long, short or medium term basis.

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