Health Department Biweekly Reports Folder 0066, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani -2- December 8, 2000

• 2. SUPPORTED HOUSING UPDATE

Recently, not-for-profit mental health housing providers and their associated advocacy organizations have made concert& efforts to convince the State Division of the Budget to increase the per bed funding levels for supported housing programs. Since the inception of the`supported housing program in 1990, the funding level has increased approximately 6 percent, while rent increases have exceeded underscore tne problems with curiput Fuudlu I Js,1he 15 e"-'\ providers notified the State Mental Health Commissioner that they would decline to bid for additional housing programs unless the rate increases. In an effort to address the providers' concerns, the State Commissioner notified them that an 11 percent increase was approved for new programs. While this action was received favorably, the providers are expected to continue their efforts to obtain increases for programs established in prior years.

3. CITY COUNCIL TESTIMONY the The Department, represented by Commissioner Cohen testified at a hearing of City Council Subcommittee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism and "Unlicensed Drug Abuse Services on December 6, 2000. The hearing's subject was Adult Homes and the Shortage of Supported Housing tor me Mentally III". The testimony included a description of the various types of housing available to mentally ill adults in New York City.

f0„Pl00 Licensed mental health housing refers to housing programs that provide services the and facilities that meet standards set by Mental Hygiene Law and are licensed by kB State Office of Mental Health (SOMH); they are often referred to as community y~Q?! residences and can include congregate and scatter-site apartments.

~pN` Adult homes, also known as residences for adults, are licensed and monitored by but the State Department of Health. Adult Homes provide activities of daily living seldom provide the more specialized care found in the SOMH licensed housing.

Supported housing is unlicensed housing that is funded and monitored by SOMH and the Department. It provides a lower level of supervision than community residences, but does include case management services to assist tenants with living independently.

Falling outside these categories are residences that are neither licensed, funded, or monitored by any State or City agency. They are most commonly referred to as Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani -3- December 8, 2000

NYC-WTC 000138089