8 Simon Communities of Ireland felt that one cause for relapses in their own areas “ st’rsesseghyoning.t. I’mingorriud fabrouttudo,ng thattiierinureoywtteGuouetsirftIdnasespalernodetcelferstnednopserfoelpuocA was the level of support that had been offered, and paying the rent. Very frightening. I had to rather than inherent limitations in the approach to step back and not do it. I need a push supporting people in stand-alone apartments itself. (Service user) There was also a sense that the intensity of However, this is not to underestimate the desire support required to sustain people in their homes for self-contained accommodation as distinct from had not been fully grasped either in policy terms or necessarily a stand-alone home. One service user by many statutory providers. In addition, the level commented on the communal nature of living in of support that should be offered to service users high support housing, in stand-alone apartments by the Simon Communities continues to be explored. I would like to do my own shopping. It’s too “ institutionalised for me. I would like to do more Respondents emphasised not only a need for a for myself, which I’m capable of doing. It doesn’t long term commitment by support services, but make sense to me, paying for dinner I might not also discussed the intensity of support required at like. I should be able to buy my own food, the point of moving into stand-alone because I’m able to do it. This place is for people accommodation. These respondents discussed who are not able to do that (Service user) the apprehension on the part of many service users on moving in, A risk identified by a number of respondents across Simon Communities was the impact of a “ sehvicescie toohomeovsingrfyotraumergc.nTy at lbmitedrrollgouofoserousinuserd apedonghes on thecairpensel-gecivhftenadaorihceitamemrevimmrfneiperT support is needed at that time. Sometimes you accommodation and support. These respondents get it right and sometimes not. It’s very emphasised that without an adequate supply of internal to the person, the fear of now being accommodation and the opportunity for rapid responsible for a place. I don’t know how movement into independent housing options, many times I’ve had keys handed back to me there was the potential for people to quickly on the day they got the key. They couldn’t deal become entrenched in very negative behaviours with it (Staff) in emergency accommodation or other transitional accommodation options. One respondent commented on the impact on service users of their experiences of living for Young people, especially those leaving care, were long periods in transitional accommodation, viewed as particularly vulnerable in this regard. A priority for a number of Simon Communities was “ accommetdsttion oortyearsreetdoyeiare,mendency group.ping sereri,cas oupleetftrespondentstnotedsihfosdeenehoemotcevvewoHolevedgrasnrnatsehnfkcuaogelpoeP that’s where the fear comes from – that street the specific challenges for young people leaving community. Whereas if they were genuinely care, especially in relation to the skills to sustain six months through, you wouldn’t have built independent living. up that fear. Some people have had ten years of being minded, being in a goldfish bowl, where you know if you walk out of your door, you can see staff or another resident. Then to go completely out there – it’s terrifying (Staff). Some service users in High Support Housing themselves tended to reflect this view, describing their anxiety at the prospect of a move,
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