National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

eing appropriately housed 84 . This strategy supports the policy of community based livingand access to mainstream housing provision, where appropriate, for people with mentalhealth disabilities, who have low or medium support needs. Mental health services have akey role to play in assisting and facilitating referral and access to housing.(b) Management of Housing Process for People with a Mental Health Disability9.31 Applications for housing services by people with a mental health disability need to becarefully managed by local authorities. Engaging with authorities in respect of housingapplications can prove extremely challenging for many people with a mental healthdisability, particularly if they do not have family or advocacy support. Difficulties can arise inrespect of applicants who frequently change address, are admitted to hospital for treatmentor are unable to engage effectively with the housing authority by virtue of their disability.Where necessary, a housing authority should make appropriate arrangements to assist aperson with a mental health disability through the housing application process. Forexample, where applicants fail to reply to letters from an authority, it is considered goodpractice to implement measures, at the discretion of the authority, to check as far aspossible, if applicants are no longer in need of housing or have left the area. This approachcan be supported with ongoing liaison with the HSE.(c) Security of Tenure9.32 Security of tenure is a critical issue for people with mental health disabilities. Astable home is vital in promoting recovery and insecurity or uncertainty regardingaccommodation can exacerbate a mental health disability. People may be at risk of relapsewhere tenure is lost or in doubt. Issues may also arise regarding the sustainment oftenancies where people may have to enter hospital for treatment for long periods. However,this does not imply that certain tenures cannot be considered for people with mental healthdisabilities. People with a mental health disability, in common with others, have changingneeds throughout their lifecycle – in this context, a variety of tenures may provideappropriate solutions. As previously outlined, housing schemes such as RAS and long termleasing, given the length of contract involved and the diversity of locations, may beparticularly suitable for people with mental health disabilities. In the case of private rentedaccommodation, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 has significantly improved the securityof tenure of tenants in rented properties. Tenancy sustainment services and earlyintervention mechanisms are crucial in assisting people with mental health disabilities tomanage and resolve tenancy difficulties. Furthermore, supportive work undertaken by the84The VFM report on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Long Stay Residential Care for Adults within the MentalHealth Services noted that people in residential mental health services have a reduced chance of being housedby their local authority, as these people are not seen as a priority by local housing authorities because they arebeing accommodated by the HSE. The report also noted the existence of mental health ghettos, quoting anexample where more than 50% of community residences in one area are located on one street.114