Ten years ago, the Community Support and Research Unit (CSRU) released the Housing Discussion Paper to highlight critical issues and suggest new approaches to housing for people with mental illness. It has since become one of the most cited grey literature reports on housing and mental health in Canada. In November 2012, CSRU completed a new housing report aimed at improving the mental health housing system, entitled, From This Point Forward: Ending Custodial Housing for People with Mental Illness in Canada. The report details the reasons why custodial care does not support recovery from mental illness and what needs to be done to improve the mental health housing system in Canada. Change is possible. There are a number of programs in Canada that have transformed from custodial care models to approaches that are more reflective of best practices and CAMH is at the forefront of these efforts. Through partnerships with Supportive Housing in Peel (SHIP), Habitat Services, and Regeneration Community Services, CAMH has been instrumental in the development of housing projects that assist CAMH clients live independently in the community. In support of the new report, CSRU is facilitating a new community of interest with the assistance of Evidence Exchange Network (EENet). The community will bring together policymakers, mental health service providers, housing providers, and consumers and family members with the goal of transitioning away from custodial housing models.
Report