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I am thinking about applying for supportive housing - what are the differences between Community Care-level housing and Level II housing? How do I know which model is right for me?

The Community Care-level housing models, Supported SROs and Supported Housing, are permanent housing programs designed for people with psychiatric disabilities who have good independent living skills. SROs are single rooms with shared bathrooms and/or kitchens or small efficiency studios that are located in one building, whereas Supported Housing Programs consist of shared or individual apartments in a variety of residential buildings. To be eligible for these models, generally you should have a significant period of psychiatric stability, be able to provide for your own meals and take your medication as prescribed. You should also be able to manage your money or agree to money management, identify when you need assistance and seek out help, and be able to structure your own time and activities.



The Level II models are transitional programs designed for people with psychiatric disabilities who need assistance with developing independent living skills. The most common Level II programs are MICA Community Residences (MICA CRs), Supervised Community Residences (Super CRs), Community Residence SROs (CR/SRO) and Apartment Treatment. To be eligible for a CR, where all the rooms are in a single building, you should be willing to attend an outpatient treatment program for 20-30 hours a week, live closely with a group of people in a very structured setting and have your medication and money managed. If you need a lot of assistance, the Super CR and MICA CR models are a good choice because they provide 24-hour supervision. In order to be eligible for a MICA CR, you must have a substance abuse diagnosis in addition to a psychiatric diagnosis. Apartment Treatment programs consist of shared apartments in the community. The number of visits residents receive from a case manager depends on their needs. To be eligible for an Apartment Treatment program you should be able to provide your own meals and perform other household chores, take your medication as prescribed and be willing to get involved in some type of structured day activity.



Where is supportive housing located?

Supportive housing is located in all five boroughs in many different neighborhoods. Neighborhoods can be very vibrant and urban, like Midtown Manhattan and Harlem or residential and quiet like Kew Gardens or Jamaica Estates. Because of the high demand for housing, wait lists usually are longest in Manhattan and in certain neighborhoods in Queens. Although people often have strong ties to certain places, it is a good idea to make a list of all the things you desire in a neighborhood and look into areas with similar characteristics - you might even discover a new favorite neighborhood.



There are things in my past that I am afraid the housing providers might hold against me. Should I focus on my strengths in the interview, and minimize problems I had in my past?

Above all else, you want to be honest during the interview. Housing providers certainly want to hear about your strengths and accomplishments, but they also want to hear about the challenges you have faced and how you have dealt with adversity. They also need to be sure that you need the services they have to offer. When discussing things that you think the housing provider might construe as negative, try to 'frame' the behavior or put the incident in context. Although it can be difficult and sometimes embarrassing, you want to talk about the events that led up to the behavior, why you thought you acted in that manner, what you have learned and any actions you have taken to avoid repeating the behavior in the future. This assures providers that you have insight into your behavior, are aware of your actions and that you learn from your mistakes.



I want to live on my own, but my treatment team thinks I need more support than that, like in a level II residence. What are the advantages to living in a level II program?

Initially, you should speak to the people in your treatment team to find out what services a Level II program provides that you might find helpful. Level II housing is often a good match if have recently been hospitalized, have abused substances within the last year, have a history of not taking your medication or following up with treatment or if you have never lived on your own before.



When considering a Level II program, keep in mind, that Level II housing is transitional, not permanent. The goal of transitional housing programs is to teach you the skills and behaviors you will need to live more independently. Often people find that living in a Community Residence or an Apartment Treatment program for a year or two helped prepare them for more independent living. Another benefit of this type of housing is that it can be easier to be accepted into Supported Housing or a Supported SRO if you have lived in Level II housing. In fact, some Supported Housing Programs will only consider applicants that are living in Level II housing.