Why we do it ?

  Why build homes for people with mental disabilities who could, at least according to what we often hear, live with their parents?

 Although the situation is worrying for all age groups, it is particularly dramatic for young adults. Excluded from the education system at the age of 21 after being encouraged to develop their learning potential and their capacity for independence and socialisation to the full, young people often find themselves dependent on their parents.

The consequences of this situation can be catastrophic: regression in the process of becoming independent, loss of skills due to a lack of daily stimulation from professionals, and the danger of withdrawal. For parents: job loss, precariousness, isolation, exhaustion.

As they get older, they will become too much of a burden for their ageing parents or find themselves alone. They may then have lost their ability to integrate satisfactorily into a community setting.

There is a risk that hospitalisations for psychiatric care will become more frequent, resulting in exorbitant additional costs for the community.

Adults with disabilities must be able to live in an environment adapted to their needs, and their living spaces must guarantee:

 All people with mental disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disability, want independence when they reach adulthood, and this most often translates into a desire to leave their parents' home. This is what all young people do. The fact that they have a disability does not change this. This independence is fundamental because a person with a mental disability can be deeply happy if they live in a home that respects our charter and our values.

These homes then become the home of the person who lives there. They have their own room, their friends, their life.

This can sometimes be difficult to accept, but we must not forget that most people with mental disabilities have known this situation since birth and accept it if they feel valued rather than rejected.