The people with whom [Heritage] deals ... are at the bottom of the housing ladder; people whose lives are on the edge of disintegration; people trying day by day to beat the disease of alcoholism, or mental illness, or substance abuse. That is our clientele. … Without government assistance to house this population, they will be in everyone’s backyard, and in their parks, and under their highways, and in their train stations.
And housing is only the first step. They need counseling. They need individual support. They need treatment.
… for this country to remain great, it must deal with and find a way to use the great potential this large disadvantaged population represents in terms of manpower (personpower), diversity and creativity.
- Ana Pereria
A 20 bed transitional housing program for severely and persistently mentally ill single adults. This program provides intensive 24 hour 7 day supervision to help ready clients for the move to greater independence. A broad range of case management and daily living skills supports help clients to transition to community based living.
Some of Heritage’s residential clients who are living with mental illness require an intermediate step between intensely supervised transitional housing and permanent, more independent Supported Housing. For these clients Heritage offers two long-term transitional housing programs, one a scattered site more intensive program with 48 beds, and one a less intensive congregate program with 20 beds). These programs feature a level of social services and supports that fit client needs and allow them to transition to more independent living at a pace that is in keeping with their needs and wishes.
This is a 6 bed intensive transitional housing program for homeless individuals who have spent significant time living on the streets. Pathways assists clients in securing services and entitlements, and in learning the daily living skills they need in order to transition into more permanent housing. The goal of this short-term (6 month) housing program is to engage long-term homeless individuals who have resisted previous outreach efforts.
HCCP is an intensive case management program serving approximately 120 women per year who have a forensic background and who are either HIV positive or of greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Clients in HCCP are linked to community based medical, mental health and substance abuse services to assist them in maintaining wellness and integrating successfully into the community.
Heritage provides long-term/permanent housing for people living with AIDS or advanced HIV illness. The programmatic emphasis in this housing is on maintaining physical and emotional health, and reaching maximum individual potential. In addition to supportive services provided on-site, clients are also referred to local medical, mental health and substance abuse services as needed.
MIX is an intensive 23 bed transitional housing program for homeless mentally ill ex-offenders. Clients are assisted in learning daily living skills, managing their mental illness, and accessing vocational training in order to help them avoid returning to criminal activity and transition to more permanent housing. Clients begin the MIX program in a 6 bed, 24 hour supervised setting, with the ultimate goal of employability and independence.
Heritage facilitates 170 beds of scattered site Supported Housing in Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens for individuals living with mental illness who are ready for nearly independent living. This is considered to be “permanent housing”, and so clients can remain in this program for as long as it meets their needs. Clients in this program live independently, but still receive periodic visits from case workers to ensure their successful integration into the community. If clients so choose, Heritage staff will assist them in transitioning to completely independent living.
New Beginnings is a 16 bed transitional (90 days) housing program for individuals who are homeless and HIV positive. As soon as they enter the program, New Beginnings clients are linked to medical services for assessment and treatment. Clients are also assisted in improving daily living skills and overall functioning, and in accessing more permanent housing.
This is an intensive case management program for seriously mentally ill women who are nearing their release dates from prison. We work with women while they are still in prison to access entitlements and prepare for their release. Once released, clients are provided with intensive case management services to link them up with community based supports and to help them integrate successfully into the community.
This is a 20 bed transitional housing program for mentally ill adults who have a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. This is an intensively supervised program that assists clients in gaining and maintaining sobriety, as well as living with and recovering from mental illness. Clients in this program are provided with and referred to services that address both mental health and substance abuse issues in an integrated fashion.
In addition to our Scattered Site Supported Housing program, Heritage also owns and/or operates congregate housing facilities that provide long-term/permanent housing for individuals (with a history of long term homeless shelter usage) living with and recovering from mental illness. Residents in these facilities receive support in maintaining their apartments and minimizing the effects of their illness. A wide range of supportive, vocational and recreational services are provided in these congregate settings.
Heritage offers single room occupancy housing for single adults with a history of homelessness. Services for these clients include on-going assessment and case management, individual and group counseling, peer support and referrals to collateral services. Although this housing is intended to be transitional in nature, there are no specific length of stay restrictions. Heritage also provides completely independent living apartments for individuals who meet Federal income requirements for low income housing.
Heritage Heights Village is a community revitalization program that works with government agencies, local businesses, and fellow community based organizations to bring needed improvements to the cityscape of our community. Among HHV’s initiatives are the Main Street Project, which aims to improve the buildings and streetscape of a portion of West/Central Harlem, and the New York City Clean Streets Project.