A shortage of affordable housing has forced many people into unstable living situations. With fewer options, more barriers and higher monthly payments, finding and keeping a safe place to live is much more difficult than in years past. There are fewer social safety nets, and when you start to run out of options, it’s only natural to feel stressed and hopeless.
Struggling to make ends meet aggravates anxiety and depression in individuals who are already prone to mental health conditions. Dealing with discrimination, overcrowding, unsafe conditions and the threat of homelessness complicates things further.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how housing instability can affect your mental health and how mental health treatment can impact your ability to live independently.
What’s the relationship between housing instability and mental health?
Housing instability and mental health conditions have a compounding effect. Having difficulty making rent or mortgage payments can create feelings of shame, social isolation and anxiety. While mental health symptoms don’t directly cause homelessness, they can affect your ability to maintain an income. Cognitive impairment or brain fog, low energy, and negative thought patterns are among the most common symptoms. Making an effort to show up and do your best at work might cause aspects of your personal life to suffer. Mental health conditions also can be associated with poor physical health.
Evidence shows that housing security promotes education, economic security and health. However, our housing security is directly tied to our financial stability. There are many barriers to financial freedom for those in our society who don’t come from a privileged background. Disability is the number one basis for discrimination in the housing market. Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) face other social inequities that put them at a high risk for housing insecurity. For many, converging difficulties in multiple areas of life results in depression and suicidal ideation.
How do housing challenges exacerbate poor mental health?
To fully meet our needs, a home should provide more than shelter from the elements. We need privacy and security for both our belongings and our physical selves. We need our homes to be free of environmental hazards like water contamination and lead. We actually need to feel safe and get quality rest every night. We need a certain level of comfort and the resources to regulate our emotions. We also need supportive relationships and partners we can trust to help us out when we’re in need.
People in crowded, unsafe or insecure housing may face the following mental health challenges:
- Stress, anxiety and depression — Various aspects of housing insecurity are damaging to mental, social and emotional well-being.
- Poor sleep — Without sufficient heat, privacy, safety or comfort, people may not be able to get restful sleep.
- Physical health problems — Mental health conditions can cause disruptions in sleep and eating habits and physical symptoms like indigestion and headaches.
- Domestic/relationship problems — The stress of insecure housing can cause conflicts between partners and families.
How can people with mental health conditions improve their housing security?
When you’re dealing with a mental health condition, the first step toward housing security is accepting that it’s OK to ask for help. There are programs and resources out there for you. It’s just a matter of finding the right type of assistance and reaching out. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can help with avoiding foreclosure and temporary housing. MakingHomeAffordable.gov has information on refinancing a home and modifying mortgage payments. The National Housing Law Project is another great resource for all kinds of housing challenges.
When you’re already dealing with housing insecurity, getting treatment for your mental health may not seem possible. However, treatment will be critical for your long-term health and well-being. Housing needs to come first, and then you can start looking for ways to finance treatment. Centers for Independent Living and other kinds of supportive group homes may be available in your area. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) also provides free and affordable services to residents.
Here are some ways mental health treatment can support housing security:
- Creating a personal connection with someone who cares about your well-being
- Overcoming shame and self-doubt
- Learning to identify your needs and advocate for yourself
- Learning skills for emotional regulation
- Finding ways to manage negative thoughts and unwanted behaviors
- Developing resilience to stress and triggering situations
Dealing with both housing insecurity and mental health symptoms is a lot for one person to manage. There is hope that you can find a stable housing situation and get the treatment you need to feel truly safe and well. Nobody really succeeds in life on their own. Connecting with supporters, mentors and a positive community will be instrumental to your recovery.
At Lightfully, we personalize each client’s treatment plan to meet them exactly where they are in life. Instead of focusing on a diagnosis or symptom reduction, we help you build up processes for a more proactive approach to mental wellness. We combine individual psychotherapy with group therapy and family therapy sessions so you’re surrounded by a supportive community. We also accept insurance to make treatment more financially accessible.
Do you need help navigating mental health treatment? Please contact us. Let’s talk about some steps you can take to start working toward better mental health today.
