“Here I am now in my new home, sitting on my sofa, relaxing. I’ve collected a few of my favorite things to surround me with and enjoy. It’s easy to have a building with things in it. But to have something that’s personal, it means something-it was purchased by choice…free will. Those things make a home.”

Gabby, reStart Permanent Housing Resident

Program Description - We provide two permanent housing programs: A New Start with 21 units of permanent housing in a 3-building apartment complex for adults with persistent mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders and Vocational Living Center that provides permanent housing and supportive services for 12 chronically homeless adults with disabilities. These programs offer supportive health care; educational assistance; chemical dependency support groups; life skills classes; housing assistance; and other supports through our partners and our case management team.

Program long-term success defined - Men and women sustain permanent housing, employment, education or skills, mental/physical healthcare and greater self-determination to be self-sufficient and end their homelessness, as well as achieve goals for work, school, skills and personal/interpersonal goals.

Program short-term success defined - This program is designed to help people who have persistent mental illness, physical disabilities, substance abuse disorders, or any combination of these issues, achieve a permanent and lasting housing and remove them from the homeless services network.

Examples or evidence of program success - After providing permanent housing to up to 20 individuals at A New Start permanent housing complex since 2006, we added additional permanent housing services in 2007 by taking over operation of the Vocational Living Center. We now provide permanent housing to 31individuals with persistent mental illness, co-occuring disorders and disabilities.  These individuals receive supportive case management and are able to lead fulfilling and more independent lives, while no longer being a burden on the homeless emergency shelter system.