EXPLORING and USING STRENGTHS TO REACH HOUSING AND HOME GOALS (from page 107, Moving Toward True Recovery: A Mental Health Provider Toolkit, KU School of Social Welfare, Office of Mental Health Research and Training) Definition: Having a decent living situation is a very important support to recovery. An overwhelming number of people who are in recovery identified that having decent and safe housing was the factor that allowed them to make their turnaround toward recovery. These tools are meant to help people assess their current housing situation and identify future goals they have in this area. Directions for Use Complete the checklist called Where Are You in Regard to Having Decent Housing and a Sense of Home? Once you have completed that, complete the worksheet on Exploring Strengths about Housing and Home. Completing both of these will help you to identify what strengths and goals you have in regard to housing. They will be ready to start planning for the future by completing the worksheet called Using Your Strengths to Reach Your Housing Goals. Consider sharing what you have discovered with someone you trust or who you feel might be able to help you achieve your goals. Remember if you are using a Strengths Assessment to add the information you discovered to it for future reference.
Where are You in Regard to Having Decent Housing and a Sense of Home? Check all that apply: I feel at home where I live. My living situation feels safe. My housing is affordable (I pay less than 30% of my income for housing). My living situation is personalized to reflect my interests and tastes. I m living in an area where I want to live. I have enough privacy where I live. I keep my living situation up well enough based on my preferences. I have my living situation organized to support my health and well-being. I want to stay where I am. The make-up of my household (e.g. living alone or with others) is what I want.
EXPLORING STRENGTHS ABOUT HOUSING AND HOME List the housing and home strengths you currently have: (e.g,. my apartment is OK, I have several art posters that I like, there is a big park close by that I like to walk in, the stove is big enough). What housing and home strengths did you use in the past?: (e.g,. I had my own apartment for 5 years; I had Section 8 rental assistance; I know how to sew and once made curtains.) What housing and home goals do you want to achieve in the future?: (e.g,. I want to live closer to the bus line; I want a roommate to share expenses; I want to buy a big rocking chair (garage sale?); I want to keep my current apartment but make it safe and nicer)
USING STRENGTHS TO REACH YOUR HOUSING AND HOME GOALS In order to reach the goals you have for your living situation you can use your unique strengths and resources. Remember when you list your strengths that strengths can be: INTERNAL (e.g., my apartment gives me a peaceful feeling; I know how to cook and can prepare nutritional meals) EXTERNAL (e.g., I have a big, sturdy comfortable sofa; Mike, my roommate, helps with the rent) What naturally-occurring community resources can you draw on to reach your housing goals? (e.g., I am going to check with the gas company to see if they can help me with my heating bill) What formal services do you want to enlist to reach your goals? (e.g., my case manager can help get flexible funds from the mental health center to have my apartment sound-proofed as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act). Identify your feelings and attitudes around the state goals: (e.g., I m really excited about updating my apartment; I m pretty scared about moving out on my own, but I feel I need to take the risk).
What are the significant barriers you may encounter as you work towards your goals? (e.g., without a rental subsidy I may have to have a roommate; I may need to show references). List strategies that you can use to overcome barriers in reaching your housing goals: (e.g., I m going to apply now for a Section 8 subsidy because the waiting list is two years long). How will you chart your progress along the way as you move toward your goals? (e.g., Make a notebook of things I need to make my apartment nicer, I ll cross them off when I find each item; I ll keep a running list of apartment buildings to check out and cross them off after I see the units) How will you celebrate when you reach your goals? (e.g., when I repaint my kitchen, I will invite my friend Sam to dinner)