Villebois Community Housing: Dispelling the Myths

Many people have requested more information about the community housing that is available in the Villebois neighborhood in Wilsonville, Oregon. As you may or may not be aware, the Villebois community was built upon the grounds of the former Dammasch State Hospital. A caveat of the closure and subsequent sale of the hospital property included reservation of eight acres for the development of community housing for people with mental illness.

The term "community housing" covers a broad range of residences woven into the fabric of our unique urban village - from group homes where residents live "family-style" with assistance from on-site staff to small affordable apartments where residents enjoy a greater level of independence.

The integration of community housing for people with disabilities in a state-of-the-art neighborhood like Villebois puts Oregon on the map when it comes to having the most progressive model of community living. The development of this exciting housing concept is the result of collaboration involving the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-Oregon), Costa Pacific Communities, Arbor Custom Homes, the City of Wilsonville, the Wilsonville business community, local nonprofit housing developers, the State of Oregon and Clackamas County.

The planning and implementation of community housing in our neighborhood is positive in many ways:

1. It ensures development and affordability of mental health residential projects at Villebois, housing very low income adults with mental illness.
2. It reduces the population of homeless mentally ill people in Clackamas County and in Oregon.
3. It provides an opportunity for many mentally ill adults to live in a respectful environment and thrive in their recovery.
4. It reduces the need for more expensive mental health treatment interventions; and
5. It helps mitigate the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Here are a few dispelled myths about mental illness and community housing*:

Myth: People with mental illness are violent.
Fact: There is also no need to be concerned about violence or other harmful behavior with residents living in community housing. Studies have repeatedly shown that those with mental disabilities are no more likely to be violent than the general population. Individuals with mental illness who live in Villebois are screened for their ability to live successfully in community housing.

Myth: Group homes and supportive housing have a negative impact on property values.
Fact: Community housing in Villebois will have no adverse effect on property values. Research has found that property values remain unaffected by nearby homes for people with disabilities.

Myth: People with mental illness never get better and should be in hospitals.
Fact: One half to two-thirds of mentally ill individuals achieve considerable improvement or recovery,

We appreciate your interest and support of community housing in the Villebois community.

If you would like more information, please call 866.580.2836 or email Info@CostaPacific.com. If you have specific questions about the types of housing for people with mental illness that exists in Villebois, please contact Darcy Strahan with the Oregon Department of Human Services at 503.945.9722 or Darcy.Strahan@state.or.us. You may also contact Bruce Mack at Community Solutions for Clackamas County at 503.502.2346 or brucem@co.clackamas.or.us; or Sherry Mackey at Clackamas County Community Health at 503.722.6628 at SherryMac@co.clackamas.or.us.

* Provided by the Oregon Department of Human Services