About Supported Living

Hello all, I need some advice and information about supported living please. 

Long story short, I became homeless two years ago, I went to the council and was given emergency temporary accommodation provided by the council. I was accepted onto the housing register, and put into temporary accommodation for two years. The second year in (last year), I moved out of a house share and into a 1 bed flat, as I wasn’t coping living in a house share and antisocial behaviour going on inside. 

However, the truth is, I have found it difficult to cope living on my own, independently for the first time. 

I am heavily dependent on my mum for company and happiness. 

I don’t have friends or a job or school. 

For the past two years, I often have days/nights spent at my mums. I am autistic and have generalised anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts from being alone and having no purpose in life.

Only recently I was given 1 bed housing association flat. If I didn’t accept it the council could refuse to help me and then I’d be dumped on my mum. And that can’t happen (another story).

The last couple weeks my mental health has taken a toll, I have thoughts like I don’t want to be here. I have been unwell with a tummy bug and fever as well, so its all getting on top of me. I’ve been really distressed reaching out to crisis lines and all sorts, but getting nowhere. Even asked the GP for an emergency appointment and was told no one was available and to go to A&E. 

I have been to A&E in the past for my mental health and it was shockingly bad.

Fast forward… last Friday out of the blue, social services phoned me, I think my GP may have notified them that I was reaching crisis. I explained how I’m finding it difficult to get support for my mental health and autism, living alone, being alone, and felt like giving up. They asked me whether I could move back in with my mum (i cant), and they threw out the idea of supported living, although they said its not straight forward and could be a wait.

When I initially became homeless I had started the process of applying for supported living and I believe I did qualify under the conditions I accepted social services coming to visit me. But I refused it at the time, I thought with the right medication and therapy I could move on. I had also already gotten a taster of living in a house share and I wasn’t keen on it. As explained above. 

I think there a probably pros and cons to supported living but I would like to know more of the pros… honest pro’s. 

I really struggle when I get letters from the council or universal credit to do with rent and stuff, I often don’t understand them and it stresses me out to make phone calls and to chase things up. This is something I feel I need help with in life moving forward. 

I don’t know if there is some alternative of support I can get instead of the supported living route. As much as I like the idea of a carer being on site, I’ve heard horror stories. I am also scared of not knowing who i’m living with, people possibly coming and going. I imagine I won’t be able to have visitors over, like my mum. I also would be living in a room apposed to having my own flat which I have now. I’m just trying to find the positives of supported living vs what I have now - living independently. I fear I could regret giving up my flat to go into shared housing. 

Like I would really like someone to visit me at my flat, companionship and help me to engage in the community, activities, education, going places, possibly volunteering, employment. 

Social services are going to call me this week and I’m not sure how to proceed.