Mentally ill patients may soon be homeless

Men with long-term mental illnesses have just three months to find a new home after funding for their housing trust was axed.

White Wings Charitable Trust has provided housing and support services for men recovering from mental illness since 2000. Currently 23 men live under supervision of the trust in seven homes owned by O¯ tautahi Community Housing Trust in Linwood Park. It employed a housekeeper and part-time support worker and provided meals, some cleaning and medication supervision.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) told the trust board on Tuesday it would no longer provide an annual contribution of about $100,000 because there were other housing options for the men.

As a result, the trust’s board decided it would no longer be able to operate and would close from November 1.

CDHB executive director planning and funding Carolyn Gullery said the board had contributed to the trust in the past ‘‘particularly when accommodation had been scarce in Christchurch and alternative options limited’’.

‘‘Mental health and recovery services have developed a wider range of options, which the tenants will be encouraged to access to help them make the best, most appropriate decision about their future living arrangements.’’

However, staff, residents and family members were deeply disappointed by the move and said most of the men would struggle to live independently.

At meetings with individual residents this week, information about services provided at Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS) was provided to the men.

Trust board member Andrew Donnithorne said the board had not been told why the CDHB had decided to withdraw its funding. ‘‘There are lots of other health services in Christchurch and they’re obviously better than us . . . or the health board wants a different service . . . and so that’s where the people will go to.’’

He said his heart went out to the men.

One resident said he moved to the trust eight months ago after a period in Hillmorton Hospital, a mental health facility.

He said without support from the housekeeper, who was like ‘‘camp mother’’ and the camaraderie with other residents he would ‘‘go backwards’’.

The residents all had recurring and long-term mental health issues and could not manage independent living, he said. ‘‘It’s not temporary . . . we’re the kind of guys who don’t come right.’’