The guiding principles relevant to the housing needs of individuals with mental health difficulties include citizenship (equity of access), community care, including specialist mental health support, coordination of supports and inclusiveness. The recovery approach as the cornerstone of A Vision for Change policy is particularly relevant. Recovery in this context “reflects the belief that it is possible for all service users to achieve control over their lives, to recover their self-esteem, and move towards building a life where they experience a sense of belonging and participation”(Department of Health and Children 2006). Along with difficulties in securing employment, limited access to appropriate housing represents a ‘structural barrier to mental health’ and is recognised as a key factor maintaining the ‘cycle of [social] exclusion’ experienced by many people with mental health difficulties in Ireland (Department of Health and Children, 2006