Support scheme helps tenants with mental health problems to live independently

An innovative support scheme for people with enduring mental health problems based on good housing has proved successful in helping them to lead independent lives in a home of their own, according to research supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The Home-Link scheme, which has been evaluated in East Yorkshire, combines a permanent, rented home with a low level of support, including help with managing household finances. Based on the established KeyRing housing networks for people with learning disabilities, the scheme employs part-time support workers who are not health or social services professionals.

An evaluation of pilot Home-Link schemes by Deborah Quilgars of the University of York's Centre for Housing Policy found they had succeeded from the point of view of tenants and of the health, housing and social services agencies who established the project.

• The housing department provided good-quality, secure tenancies on a priority basis. In most cases, the aim of creating networks of tenants by providing properties that were close to each other was achieved.
• The Home-Link workers provided tenants with company, reassurance and a wide range of practical support, including help with budgeting, claiming benefits and paying the rent. They spent an average of 5-6 hours a month with each tenant. Tenants tended to view them as closer to friends than formal workers.
• Most tenants felt the scheme had made a difference to their lives, enabling them to attain and maintain independence. Many said the support had helped to reduce their anxiety about living alone and that their mental health had improved since joining the scheme.
• Benefits of the scheme to agencies included freeing-up the time of health and social services professionals to concentrate on higher level support. The housing department received no complaints about any of the Home-Link tenants and no rent arrears were incurred over three years.
• Plans to tackle the isolation of living alone by encouraging mutual support networks and arranging social events like lunches and outings were slow to develop, but welcomed by users when arranged. The evaluation report recommends that the 'good neighbour' aspect of the scheme should be promoted further.

The success of the pilot schemes was underlined by a decision to extend Home-Link to the whole of East Yorkshire, with funding that included Mental Health Specific Grant money. However, the report warns that current funding mechanisms are unhelpful and will need to change if long-term provision of preventive services like Home-Link is to continue.

Deborah Quilgars said: "Home-Link offers a simple, effective and relatively inexpensive way of tackling the difficulties that people with mental health problems encounter in securing appropriate housing and support. It is not a miracle solution, but by providing low-level support for an unlimited period it tackles the 'revolving door syndrome' whereby people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals at time of crisis, but have services withdrawn when they appear to be well, leaving them vulnerable to re-admission."