Mental
Health Association in New York State, Inc. |
Community Connections, Spring 2003Supported
Housing in Western New York While working as a peer advocate for Housing Options Made Easy, Inc (H.O.M.E.) in Chautauqua County for the past two years, I have observed that people with mental illness don't consider themselves to be worthy of the basic necessities that constitute safe living conditions. The reasons may be multi-faceted (situational, economical, emotional) or may simply be due to a lack of knowledge of safety standards. Housing Options Made Easy, Inc. (1-800-421-1114) is a supported housing program that offers peer advocacy and serves four counties in western New York: Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegheny. Generally, when people come onto the program, they are homeless or looking to move from their current apartment. We have a HUD-approved safety inspection that we do for each apartment that our consumers chose to live in. This inspection checks every detail from paint, woodwork, doors, windows, plumbing, electric outlets, light fixtures, stairs, and furnaces. The landlord signs the inspection and agrees to do any and all repairs, usually within one month, and the consumer and staff sign the inspection. The first obstacle people encounter when looking for a new apartment is trying to find the funding to move. In Chautauqua County, most apartments are required to have a security deposit along with the first month's rent, and some even request a last month's rent as well. Basically if the landlord asks for $420 per month, utilities included, for a one bedroom (which does not qualify for fair housing market value in Chautauqua County) the initial costs renters are looking at include $420 each for the 1st month rent, security deposit and the last month’s rent for a total of $1260. With a supported housing program the landlord will usually drop the last month's rent requirement because it is a business arrangement rather than a personal deal. Housing Options, will issue a one-time security deposit that follows the consumer while they remain on the program. H.O.M.E. also provides a rental stipend based on the person's income. The consumer is responsible for applying approximately 30% of their annual income toward their rent. At this point H.O.M.E. has reduced the expense by at least $840. The second obstacle is location and access to public transportation for doctor's appointments, schools, employment, government offices and social opportunities. Many people with mental illness are on limited incomes and do not have cars; they rely on public transportation, which in my county means taxicabs or the bus. The cost of a taxi is outrageous, and the bus only runs weekdays and on main streets of the city. Sometimes people are so deeply overcome by the symptoms of their illness that they don't realize the apartment and the neighborhood they are living in are unsafe. The stairs may be broken with the railings loose and falling off, the light bulbs smashed or not working and garbage piled three feet high around the landing. This is a description of an actual entryway I have encountered and its state of disrepair was not caused by the consumer who lived on a different floor. The individual I was working with was relocated once it was understood that it is reasonable to expect repairs to be made in a timely manner. Safety issues should be a concern for every renter in need of housing no matter where or what type of home they are looking for. Everyone should check for such items as working smoke detectors, frayed wires, gas leaks, damaged or loose stairs, working plumbing. Check for lead-based paint, especially if children will be living in the housing . Look at the apartment during daylight hours, and then go back to look at the neighborhood in the evening. Ask yourself, “is this someplace where I can go to sleep easily?” For more information on HOME, see their website: www.housingoptions.org/. posted 6/13/03 |