Cohousing and social inclusion for people with mental illness

The aim of the project is to promote the residential and social inclusion of people with mental disorders and / or addictions to alcohol or other substances. The project is based on an alliance between the public health service / ASL Roma 4), the Community of Sant'Egidio (Third Sector), the Local Authorities and the Associations of relatives of the sick. Currently there are thirteen cohousing in two cities (Civitavecchia and Bracciano) but a development is planned to reach thirty cohousing in ten cities. So far fifty-six people have been guests of cohousing: eighteen lived on the streets as homeless, twenty-three came from psychiatric institutions and fifteen from situations of abandonment at home. The guests of the cohousing are helped every day by social health workers and volunteers in carrying out the activities of daily life inside the house and in carrying out external activities: volunteering, sports, work inclusions.