I wanted to open up a discussion about personal experiences and support for those living on the schizophrenia spectrum: what are the statistics or overall, for people with schizophrenia homelessness and housing, personal experiences how difficult was it for you to find housing, different types of housing. what your living situation is and how it could be improved, what you would change coping skills tools resources and how to/do you fight stigma?
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I smoked a lot for many years. I got free of tobacco about eight years ago. It was a big deal.
Yes, I spent a long time getting a Section 8 Voucher.
That’s a lot of text to ask me to read, but you write better than many.
Good wishes,
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thank you sorry it is a lot. I like to get all my thoughts down at once. I will shorten it. Yeah im really struggling to quit. I got approved for a BIPAP and am so grateful have used it 6 hours already today its a miracle life saver.
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I can be wordy.
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I erased the personal stuff. I would rather hear others experiences anyways and get advice input ideas on that–I am too wordy I need to learn to listen to others.
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I landed a Section 8 Voucher, but I didn’t find someone to rent to me right away. Actually, I looked a long time for somewhere I could smoke!
I live in a wealthy area, where rents are expensive. The Federal Government does not allow me a great deal to pay for rent. I could go into Subsidized Housing, but many of them do their own financing, and I would lose my Section 8 if I went into some Subsidized Housing.
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Its really difficult. I have to be on HUD right now. I have the disability so its documented with the mental health place so they know i have it–but I still have not been approved for SSI or gov. benefits so technically I have no choice. I have no income, am disabled with multiple health issues, but have been struggling for some reason everyone says its wrong they wont give me SSDI or SSI. I cant work or pay rent. I would prefer HUD though I have never had section 8. My brother is trying to get me into some other type of living situation but idk.
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When I got diagnosed I was homeless for 6 months, but my sister let me sleep in her loft for a while
Moved back in with my parents for a few years after we patched things up
Been living independently for the last 6 years
The first 2 I did really well at looking after the place
But recently it has been a real challenge
I tried to get help from Social Services, but they were so slow.
It caused me a lot of stress, so I dumped them
Now I pay a cleaner to help me keep the place clean and my mother helps me with the kitchen
Not ideal, but I am just about coping with it
Hopefully this new med might change things but who knows
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When I was waiting for SSI and SSDI, I was living with my folks. First, I quickly got on State of Connecticut Welfare. That made the State of Connecticut my ally in processing my Federal claim! State of Connecticut welfare paid $118 a month at that time, but I got a little Food Stamps and a Medical Card as well.
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I have never really been able to hold down a job. This makes it difficult because my illness started in 2002 right after 911 and I was a freshman in HS. I never was able to finish but im really smart so I took the GED after getting out of hospitalization a week later and passed. Then I kept fighting the stigma doctors said I would never work and applied to college, got good grades but started struggling–applied for benefits but was denied because I was young and doing well in college so they didnt see a need. I live in WV. well eventually not purely because of schizophrenia but mostly, I dropped out–and I have been trying my whole life to get a job and finish college. It hurts so much i failed and im still trying, but they are still repeatedly denying me support.
This is because I have never had a job that paid enough taxes–so I didnt pay enough into social security. that is the reason they have given me. I applied for SSDI and they wrote “not enough work credits” so i was denied that and ssi has denied me repeatedly with no reason given and in 2021 i went to the hearing with an attorney, and I was denied. It was over the phone, they were dismissive and mean. They said I could bus tables at night as a potential job i could do. I dont have a car and no thats not possible. But they find any reason to deny you. So schizophrenia is not enough to get me disabiilty. Well now I have to be on supplemental oxygen when I leave the house and can barely walk so that might help.
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I got on SSI with only a little work history.
Lafer on, I demonstrated that I had been disabled before age 22. Therefore, I was entitled to Social Security based upon my parents’ work histories. With that in place, I get an extra $20 a month. It is something.
As a disabled person, I am entitled to nearly all senior citizen discounts. For example, I get a discount at the local playhouse. Also, I get free checking at my bank and a free secured line of credit.
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I live in a community, basically of a bunch of duplexes, that is low income. There are about 250 apartments total all one story and mainly one bedroom. I pretty much lived with family in a way until I got an apartment here in 2016. The process here was pretty quick. I got put on a list and within a couple months got an apartment. My rent is cheap and my water and electricity are subsidized in the complex. They keep up with hud standards and do lawn care and repairs when needed. It’s a really good setup. I’ll show some pics.
just got his sectional given to me by my dads partner and this outside pic was a pic of a tree that fell after a tornado came through our town.
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Remarkably picked up space!
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Yeah it was for the pictures. It doesn’t get to messy except in the kitchen, but I pretty much clean the kitchen everyday. Dishes and loose tobacco from rolling cigarettes. Yeah it’s cool we got a place like this in my city.
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When I was 20 or so I lived in a youth hostel for a year and a half. I was arguing with my family a lot (manic episode) and they kept threatening to kick me out. It was good to meet people my age but not a permenant fix on any shape or form. One room with a bed desk and wardrobe.
Then I tried supported housing for access to a kitchen and washing and became suicidal. I hated it. Housemates had much greater needs than me and the mandatory staff meetings twice a week were a waste of my time. It was also one bedroom in a house of 5 which wasnt enough living space (no room for a desk). Moved back in with my parents after a month.
Then over 10 years relationship with my Dad got worse again and I tried for supported housing again but this time they wouldnt let me have it for ages and said I didnt have high enough needs (even though I got it before?). Got very lucky to find someone outside of MH services to give me an assessment and helped get my place.
I love living at my current place. Its a flat with small bedroom living area kitchen and bathroom. Always very quiet and people have similar needs to me. I have enough room to do what I want. Staff is around sometimes in the week to help with issues but its not mandatory to see them. Which honestly is perfect. Feel very lucky to be here.
Im really not looking forward to leaving and trying to find a council home because I will have no support or guidance at all once I move there. This also will make applying for disability benefits impossible as I have no one to write letters to express a proffesional opinion (which has to be done every few years) which in turn will make living near impossible if I cant get disability benefit.
I also doubt it will be so quiet whereever I live next.
Also its a competitive process that os just done on the internet and I found it very difficult to make such important desicions without support from someone.
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I will just add rather than continuously edit that I had about 4 years of “wanting to move out and live elsewhere but considered to have enough needs”. It was really stressful as housing here has far more demand than supply and there is really no sure way of getting it.
I thought I would be living in my parents house for the rest of my life. Which was an extremely depressing concept on its own but even more so when I dont like my Dad.
Up until 2008 I lived with my mom. She kicked me out because I wasn’t taking meds and I was homeless like from September to December. My case manager rented me a Section 8 place in December. I lived there until October 2021 when I moved here into low income senior housing.
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I meant “NOT considered to have enough needs”
And probably worth pointing out they I got my place through a specialist social worker who works with MH people at risk of homelessness.
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