Since the introduction of community care, the care of mentally Ill people has transferred from hospitals to community settings and has thus resulted in an Increase in the number of people with special housing needs. This development, coupled with the high incidence of mental health problems in the homeless population generally, is problematic for community-based mental health workers because the needs of these people are complex and the demand on services becomes greater. The emerging role of the occupational therapist in this field of care is considered and the model of human occupation Is proposed as a useful theoretical framework to conceptualise the complex needs of this client group.
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