«Alle må bo og med riktig hjelp kan alle bo.» Kommunale boliger som del av psykisk helse- og rusarbeid

Municipal social housing is essential in local mental health and substance abuse work. During the last thirty years municipalities have increasingly taken responsibility for housing and services for individuals with severe health issues. Policies now emphasize that “everyone must live, and with the right help, everyone can live,” reflecting the shift from institutional care to community-based support. The chapter explores whether municipal housing and services adequately meet the needs of individuals with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems. It focuses on municipalities’ efforts to provide housing for individuals with severe mental illness, often coupled with substance abuse and sometimes a known risk of violence. Individuals discharged from inpatient psychiatric care and transferred to compulsory mental health care outside institutions, serves as extreme cases that highlight the challenges municipalities face in securing suitable and safe social housing in the age of de-institutionalization. The qualitative findings reported in the chapter, show that suitable housing for individuals with complex health issues is closely linked to access to healthcare, support services, and a safe community environment. Extensive service needs can lead to the establishment of co-located housing and shared living arrangements, but these can pose health risks if resident composition is not adequately considered. Challenges with active substance use are particularly prominent in the municipal informants’ descriptions of housing environments.