Everyone, including individuals being treated for mental illnesses, is entitled to live a quality existence with dignity as they move through the recovery process. The stigma of mental illness - particularly self-stigma - leaves individuals living with mental illness feeling powerless, causing them to settle for less than they deserve. That is unacceptable. The search for housing should be no different for those living with mental illness than for those not living with mental illness and, as such, basic guidelines apply.

These factors include affordability, quality and safety of the neighborhood, condition of the residence, compatibility with roommates, transportation accessibility, daily support needs, and landlord competency. Housing options for people with severe mental illness include public housing, private residential housing, commercial boarding homes, supported independent living, personal care group homes, community residential rehabilitation centers, structured residential programs, and 24-hour care homes and nursing facilities.

The goal was to create a transition for individuals from psychiatric hospitals to a community health system, and then provide them with housing and services in towns and neighborhoods where they could rejoin their communities. The concept was sound. The evolution of the concept has not lived up to the promise. Instead, people with mental illness face a variety of housing challenges, including unaffordable housing options and scarcity of services and support. Furthermore, because of mental health stigma, communities are frequently unreceptive to the idea of housing for those in recovery from mental illness in their neighborhoods - a viewpoint known as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the absence of sufficient housing for people with mental illnesses can result in homelessness. Some estimates indicate that 40 percent of the nation's homeless population consists of single adults with severe mental illnesses. The NIMBY point of view is an unfortunate outgrowth of inaccurate media portrayals of and lack of knowledge about individuals living with mental illness.  Even individuals sincerely sympathetic to the housing issue sometimes draw the line on compassion when the housing is proposed in their communities. When we read about the emotionally charged protests against supportive housing in our neighborhoods, we hear shocking statements like "Send them to Mars." It is important to remember that the term "them" in actuality represents our neighbors, our friends and our families.

Helen Keller, a woman who overcame overwhelming social stigma said, "The highest result of education is tolerance." The public is bombarded by falsehoods and sensationalism. The media plays a complicit role in the housing issue when they choose to sensationalize isolated incidents, fueling fears and misconceptions. What is almost never publicized is the fact that the vast majority of those in recovery from mental illness rejoin their communities with great success. They have genial relationships with their neighbors, live productive lives and positively contribute to their communities.