TandC Associates, LLC

In continuing the review of the progress that has been made in helping those suffering with severe mental illnesses, we turn now to a review of another fundamental area where exclusionary practices exist.  Following psychiatric hospitalization, many individuals have no home to return to.  Many others, while not currently hospitalized, are homeless living in the streets.  Still others are suffering in malfunctioning family environments and seek alternatives.

In almost all of these situations, people are receiving public financial support, have no savings, are unemployed and are simply unable to secure housing on their own given the strict leasing requirements by landlords – again, a clear example of exclusionary practices.  The usual results for these disabled men and women are shelters, jail, rehospitalization or the streets, all of which are generally seen as isolation from the community.

John Beard faced this issue in 1958 when a patient, Bob, whom he had known from earlier days in Michigan, became a member of Fountain House and had no place to live.   Beard decided he would lease an apartment in the name of Fountain House and sub-let it to the new member.  The clubhouse advanced the needed security and the first month’s rent, and the member was able to pay Fountain House for each month thereafter.  It became quite clear, as a result, that there were many other members in a similar situation as Bob and could therefore benefit from the opportunity to overcome landlord exclusion.

This initial effort was thus expanded soon after as additional apartments were leased by the clubhouse.  The model for this was a common one in New York City where airline personnel, students and others share apartments as such individuals are often absent for short periods of time and, by sharing, costs are minimized.  It was clear that bigger and more affordable accommodations could be obtained if two, three or even four members went into an apartment together.  Over the next 20 years, this apartment initiative grew with the leasing of over two dozen units.  Because for most residents this is their first apartment, clubhouse staff workers are involved in day-to-day maintenance operations, such as housekeeping, food prep clean-up and interpersonal issues.  One of the non-exclusionary features of the program is the fact that these units were scattered throughout the city randomly mixed in with the community at large.

While there is no time limit on how long members can stay in an apartment, the expectation is that they are in transition, leading to movement into their own homes, as independent employment is obtained, for example. When a person leaves, another member is provided an opportunity to move in, with the approval of the remaining roommates.   As the apartment lease is in the name of Fountain House thus paying the monthly rent, this transitory quality by members poses no problem to the landlord.  One other result key to this program goes back to the core value of the WANA group: Self-help through mutual help. Most, if not all, of these apartments make it possible to provide an emergency couch or cot for another member needing a temporary “safe house”, for whatever reason as deemed appropriate by staff and members.

By the late 1970’s, it became clear that there were many members who needed a different kind of housing for a variety of different reasons. Fountain House responded to this need by opening several supervised group residences.  One of these provides housing for seniors who need closer supervision for age related physical concerns.  Other residences have 24-hour on- site staff to provide counseling and training in preparation to moving up to apartment living. As with the apartments, these residences are scattered throughout the city, and to the extent possible operate as non- identifiable community sites.

Perhaps the most progressive next step was to contract with New York City to establish an emergency housing site for those homeless and most in need. Two 6-bed floors were opened, one for men and a second for women. At this point, opportunities were available from an emergency cot to a group supervised setting to semi-independent apartments for a total of some 450 members in need of housing. In addition, all of these services were based on the notion that independent housing is the ultimate goal. What better plan for overcoming the community-based exclusion of those psychiatrically disabled seeking a decent plsce to live?

Comments, additions, and questions on this or the previous Parts are welcomed either at the Comments section below or at tandcassociates@gmail.com.