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

Scattered Site Supported Housing

Heritage facilitates 172 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 manage their daily lives largely on their own, with support from staff on a monthly basis, or more often if needed. Clients in scattered site housing are also provided with a list of Heritage employees who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to lend assistance if needed in an emergency. Many scattered site clients hold jobs and are working to become active, involved members of the community. Direction for clients in this program is provided more through encouragement and suggestion than strict supervision, and if clients so choose, Heritage will assist them in transitioning to completely independent living.

Scattered Site Supported Housing Programs – Admission Criteria

Client must be 18 years of age or older and have a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness.
Client must be eligible to receive entitlement benefits from the NYC Human Resources Administration Department of Social Services, the Social Security Administration, Medicaid, Food Stamps, etc.
Client must have no immediate potential for or likelihood of doing serious harm to himself or others.
Client must agree to adhere to his/her individual service plan, and to the rules and regulations of the program.
Client must be approved for community care by the NYC Human Resources Administration’s Office of Health and Mental Health Services.
Client must demonstrate the ability to live independently with minimal case management supports.
Clients must have intact benefits or employment and agree to pay 30% of his/her income toward rent. 7
For the Supported Housing II program, client must be eligible for housing under New York/New York II criteria.
For the Supported Housing III program, client must be eligible for housing under New York/New York III criteria, and referral must come from either the NYC Department of Homeless Services or from NYS Office of Mental Health facilities.
Referral source must submit an approved HRA-2010E housing form, and current supporting documentation, including psychosocial summary, psychiatric assessment, physical examination, and entitlement documentation.

For additional information, contact:

Pamela Pannell, Supervising Case Manager
212-866-2600 ext. 27
ppannell@heritagehousing.org