Short clip of my story

[ChadCoxRox]

 I have had mental issues since i was 11 years old. I am 58 now and need to share my heart. I had a traumatic incidence at the age of eleven. I have been in the closet for most of my life. I was saved at the age of 18. In 2002 I divorced and moved back to my state in the US. That year I was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia. My life has pretty much been a nightmare in the closet of all places. I was placed on SSDI. In the last several years they changed my diagnosis to Schizoaffective disorder.

The reason I am saying all this is because I have improved to the point I want to be independent but still struggle greatly with isolation and depression and anxiety. I live in a very small house literally in a small southern town in Arkansas My family lets me live there. I was wondering about lgbt housing or boarding houses? I would have to move to a big city I know. I just wondered if such a thing is out there. I could never support myself on the amount i get on SSDI. I get very lonely and my family is very conservative and prejudice. I could never talk to them. I just do not do good living alone. I rather not go into a group home. I can drive believe it or not.

Thanks for any information you can find for me. I live 100 miles from Shrevesport Louisiana, and 100 miles from LIttle Rock Arkansas. If that helps!

Richard

You can work in addition to your SSDI benefits (I'm a benefits/work specialist for people with disabling conditions). You can use the state's Vocational Rehabilitation programming to help you supplement your fixed income AND qualify for housing assistance. I doubt you'll find LGBT specific housing but LGBT friendly is more likely. Schizoaffective just means you have the bipolar mood disorder along with the schizophrenia. You may get some really strong progress on your recovery through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other behavioral health modalities. You WANT to but it sounds like you need to get more info and more confidence with your own stability to ensure good progress. If you are not getting peer supports and treatment it is very likely you'll have a much more complicated time navigating the plan without good supports you can trust even when you do not "feel like it." Arkansas Voc Rehab Site
All the best to you and your effort Richard!