November is National Homelessness Awareness Month & National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

The Importance of Safe and Stable Housing for Recovery

This month, we highlight the important role a safe and stable home environment , plays in the recovery journey of our community members with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. A home is more than a place to live. It is our comfort zone, a place where we feel safe and supported. This can be especially important for people in recovery. Unfortunately, not all of the community member have stable housing. Many face barriers, such as stigma, discrimination, and a lack of life skills, which can make recovery more challenging. Having a secure home environment during the recovery journey can help. This environment includes more than just the physical structure of a home, it includes creating long-lasting, nurturing relationships with family and friends. Remember with the right support, Recovery is possible for everyone.

Despite facing substantial challenges, our community members seeking or in recovery are highly resilient. To maximize the chances of our community members sustaining long-term health and wellness, recovery oriented systems of care need to acknowledge the barriers experienced by our members with Substance Use Disorders and implement evidence based features and cultural practices to help them overcome those barriers. The lack of housing for our community members is evident, as we acknowledge homelessness, we need to address the urgency to end and prevent homelessness.