Housing and accommodation support for people with mental illness
Housing and accommodation support for people with mental illness
Like any other chronic condition, mental illness might affect your ability to manage aspects of everyday life, such as finding a place to live and maintaining it. People who have a serious mental illness or more than one condition (a ‘dual diagnosis’) are more at risk of experiencing homelessness.Homelessness means you are not living in a safe and stable place. If you have a mental illness and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, there are residential services available to help you find short- and long-term accommodation.
Choose the right housing and accommodation service for you
There are several services that help people with mental illness to get back on their feet while recovering, or find a place to live that supports their needs.
Community rehabilitation centres
Community rehabilitation centres
are a short-term option to help you get back on your feet after a stay in hospital or to help you to live independently at home. You can stay at a rehabilitation centre or in your own home, if appropriate.
Residential services
There are different types of supported residential services in Victoria delivered by non-government agencies.
For example,
Mind
Australia
External Link
provides four types of supported residential services in Victoria.
Housing programs
Doorway
External Link
is Wellway’s housing program for people with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It can help you with your recovery, and help you focus on getting a safe and stable home and job.
A housing and recovery worker will support you to:
find (and keep) suitable, affordable housing in the private rental market
pay your rent independently
manage your mental illness and plan for the future, including finding a job
make connections and get involved in your local community.
Call the Mental Illness Fellowship on (03) 8486 4222 to talk to a trained volunteer (Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm).
Support at home
To find what services are available in your area that will help you with extra support at home, you can contact:
the
Neighbourhood Houses
Victoria
External Link
the
Department of Families Fairness and
Housing
External Link
your local council
your
GP (doctor)
your
counsellor
or case manager.
Extra support for older Victorians
If you are:
over 65 years old visit
MyAgedCare
External Link
to find services to help you
over 50 and identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander you can also find government-funded
aged care services available for
you
External Link
.
If you are under 65 years old,
Home and Community Care for Younger
People
External Link
(HACC PYP)
provides services to support younger people with disabilities, and their carers.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
Your case manager
Your
counsellor
or therapist
Mind
Australia
External Link
, Tel.
1300 286 463
My Aged
Care
External Link
, Tel.
1800 200 422