Severe Mental Illnesses

Severe mental illness is defined as a serious and persistent mental or emotional disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, mood-disorders, schizo-affective disorders) that interrupts people’s abilities to carry out a range of daily life activities such as self-care, interpersonal relationships, maintaining housing, and employment or school. 

People with serious mental illness are disproportionately affected by homelessness. 

Having a safe place to live, together with community based mental health services, is a vital component of stabilizing the illness and helping individuals on their journey to recovery. Housing outreach services have proven to be extremely successful in helping those with mental illness find and keep housing.