Joseph WoodwardExecutive Director

Presented at NYAPRS 7th Annual Executive Seminar

on Systems Transformation April 27, 2011, Albany, NY

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Housing Options Made Easy, Inc. is a not-for-profit supported housing

and community support agency developed and operated by and for

recipients of mental health services in which operates approximately 400

scattered site apartments in 6 counties in Western New York

Welcome Home! It’s what we do.

Agency provides services that are peer drivenOur board is to be no less than 51% peersMajority of staff are recipients We operate a housing first modelTreat people as individuals and not diagnosesDevelop services that reflect individuality Respectful treatment and understanding of individual choiceEncourage self responsibility and community integration in personal decision making

Supported Housing Peer Advocacy Services Long Term Care Services Mentor/Support for Other Peer Run

Agencies Advocacy Training Self-help Support Groups Community Empowerment Friendship Line Benefit Advisement and trainings Family and Parenting Support/Linkage

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Supportive Housing Program for Individuals/Families

Housing stabilityCommunity and school stabilityCreating meaning and purpose in lifeMotivating for recovery/wellnessImproving self-esteem Providing opportunities for love and supportHelping individual and families to feel connected to others and integrated into the communityCreating natural support opportunities through the activities of other family membersProviding a valued social and family roleAssisting with educational/vocational and employment opportunities

We work with individuals and families in overcoming barriers:

Avoiding treatment because of fear of loss of custody

Having increased symptoms during pregnancy

Having disrupted sleep because of child care and feeding schedules

Dealing with the stresses of parenting

Dealing with limitations of financial, housing, work, and social opportunities

Facing the potential trauma of loosing child custody

Facing prejudice and stigma because they are parents with mental illness

Parent needing to be hospitalized

Supporting and providing referrals for separation, divorce, domestic violence

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Services offered to families in addition to what we offer everyone:

Being role models of successful parents with mental illness

Peer sharing Informing of state laws

regarding custody and abuse

Modeling parenting skills Connecting with

appropriate and needed parenting and child services

Assisting with referrals regarding pregnancy care

Helping with family reunification

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Outcomes Reduced stigma Community integration Productive roles Reduced crisises Housing stability Financial stability Educational stability Cost savings Increased social support Improved social

functioning Improved self-esteem and

empowerment

Increased family stability Strengthened self

advocacy

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Since 2002 our recipients have reported:

90% have less need for crisis intervention 99% have found their housing stability has

improved 96% that their ability to live more

independently has improved 94% indicate improvement in daily living skills 90% have reported an improvement in social

and personal relationships

*Please see our website www.housingoptions.org for additional information

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2 transitional apartments in Erie County Training program within the RPC and BPC Psychiatric Hospitals

and facilities Community self-help groups Apartments stay open for 90 days if clients needs re-

hospitalization or because of other issues Client choose the apartment of their choice within the community

that is supportive to their recovery efforts. BPC –    9 clients have been in the program 2 years or more.            21 clients have been in the program 1 year or more.  (30)             15 clients have been in the program 6 months or more. 

(45)             4 clients have been in the program 3 months or more.  (49) Staff see them on a ongoing basis and they receive the benefits

that all our agency clients receive.

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61 referrals, only 1 denial (3 others where not ready orturned down the program)

60 admissions for the 2+ year program 42 in program 18 discharges – 30% 4 were in the program less than 6 months-22% 14 in program more than 6 months-78% 10 re-hospitalizations and 1 returned to our program,

17% 2-arrested 2 in school 5 volunteering and/or working 2 deaths

5 clients have been in the program 1 year or more

14 clients have been in the program 6 months or more (19)

6 clients have been in the program 3 months or more (25)

32 referrals, NO denials 32 admissions 25 currently in the program 7 discharges-22% 6 re-hospialized-19% 8 volunteering and/or working 1 death

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Approximate Psychiatric hospitalization Cost: RPC- approximately $225,000 per year or $616.00 a day

BPC- approximately $207,000 per year or $567.00 a day

Approximate cost savings or cost realizations:

BPC program- $9,759,000

RPC program-$3,030,500

Total: $12,789,500

This is an approximate number I have gotten from NYSOMH and does not include soft costs like ICM, CM and ACT services which in many cases are no longer needed.

Our cost: approximately: $8,500.00 annually or $23.00 a day, which includes:

security deposit, first months rent, ongoing peer services, start-up furniture and household items, bus pass, and client would pay 30% of their income towards their rent and we would pay the difference. Other miscellaneous costs: utilities, food, moves, pest spraying and damage as examples.

Reasons for our Success Consumer choice Training programs and relations that have been

developed Partnerships we have made with the psychiatric centers Transitional apartments and the type they are! Person centered and integrated community services and

supports Peer role modeling Trainings for the traditional staff Benefits in place Fear taken away Community integration Good follow-up Realistic goals for the individuals Person centered discharge goals Client satisfaction

Housing Options Made Easy, Inc.

75 Jamestown Street

Gowanda, New York 14070Phone 716-532-5500 or 1-800-421-1114

Best Practice in Supportive Housing for Families

Author: Nancy J. Wewiorski

http://homelessness.samhsa.gov/resource/view.aspx?id=48233

www.housingoptions.org