Abstract
Research on supportive housing programs for adults with severe and persistent mental illness has historically focused on the factors that contribute to housing loss, rather than exploring variables that assist individuals in thriving in these settings. Thriving in housing was examined through an autoethnographic approach that compiled stories that were gathered from the author’s years living and working at supportive housing complexes. Four primary themes emerged from the sample that included hedonic, eudiamonic, social, and psychological well-being. Hedonic well being referred to a sense of satisfaction one has with their life. Eudaimonic well-being reflected the meaning individuals made out of their lives. Social well-being denoted the perceived support one had from others. Psychological well-being reflected an individual’s resilience to managing stressors. These four aspects of well-being reflect facets of an individual’s life that likely contributed to successfully managing the various systemic, psychiatric, and social obstacles inherent in obtaining and maintaining housing. Understanding thriving in the context of housing supports a positive psychology perspective of wellness that can inform future research and counseling with individual with severe and persistent mental illness. It extends beyond symptom reduction through emphasizing a strengths-based approach to supporting those community members.