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Scattered-site supportive housing

Four organizations run “scattered-site” programs foryouth aging out of foster care, apartments in the com-munity visited by teamseams of professionals whoprovide individualized support, educational and voca-tional services. Virtually all scattered-site apartmentsare shared two-bedrooms.

St. Vincent Services provides supportive housing to 26 youngadults aging out of foster care inBrooklyn.

Emily Hertzemily.hertz@scs.org718-794-6331

New York Foundling provides supportive housing to 25 youthaging out of foster care.

Tiffany WalkerTiffanyW@nyfoundling.org646-413-0629

SCO Family Services provides apartments and services to 36 young adults inQueens.

Mary Noto-GilroyMNoto@sco.org718-739-1681 ext. 12

Jewish Board of Family & Chil-dren’s Services provides apart-ments and services to 26 youngpeople transitioning from fostercare in the Bronx.

Vanessa A. Edwardsvedwards@jbfcs.org718-931-4045 x 208

Supportive Housing for Youth

Transitioning Out of Foster Care

What is supportive housing? 

Supportive housing is a simple commonsensesolution to homelessness among vulnerablepeople:  independent, affordable housinglinked to easily-accessible support servicesaimed at helping at-risk tenants achieve theirlife goals. Tenants pay no more than a third oftheir income in rent and have easy access towhatever assistance they need to achieve in-dendence -- everything from learning how tocook to finding and pursuing a meaningful ca-reer. Supportive housing for some 200 youthaging out of foster care was created startingin 2007.

There are two types of supportive housing,“scattered-site” -- rented apartments in thecommunity visited regularly by support staff -- and single site -- apartments in a building de-veloped and run by a nonprofit in whichservices are offered by on-site staff. Eligibletenants are between 18-25 years old who areleaving or having recently left foster care whohad been in foster care for more than a yearafter their 16th birthday and who are at riskof homelessness. To apply, a social serviceprovider must fill out a 2010E application. Formore information, contact Paul Williams atAdministration for Childrens Services (212)676-6779 or at paul.williams@acs.nyc.gov.

For more information about supportive hous-ing visit www.shnny.org

The Lee, Lower East Side Manhattan -- 262units, 55 for youth. Owned by CommonGround Community, services by The Door.

Stacey Saundersssaunders@door.org646-600-7413

The Chelsea Foyer, Manhattan, 40 units, all at-risk youth. Owned by Common Ground Com-munity, services by Good Shepherd Services.

Adrian RodriguezAdrian_Rodriguez@goodshepherds.org646-485-3943

"My two years at the Foyer have beena blessing and have shown me a lotabout becoming a better person, better father, and better role model."

Louis Nine, the Bronx,Neighborhood Coali-tion for Shelter, 46apartments for a mixof at-risk youth

Robert Yanceyryancey@ncsinc.org917-477-2470

Lantern Organization has three residences foryouth: Vicinitas Hall, the Bronx -- 68 apartmentsfor a mix of at-risk and low-income youth(kitchen pictured on front); Shafer Hall, EastHarlem -- 91 apartments, 25 for youth; JasperHall, the Bronx -- 53 apartments, 22 for youth

Dana Brittondbritton@lanterngroup.org718-716-7083 x 107

Questions about supportive housing foryoung adults

Is it like a group home? No: supportive housing is housing, not a program. Services are person-centered and comprehensive: the tenant works with staff to sethis/her life goals, and staff do whatever they canto help her/him attain them.

Is it like a NYCHA apartment?No, supportive housing is different from NYCHAhousing on several fronts. There is staff in supportive housing dedicated to tenants’ successin becoming independent, fulfilled adults. Supportive housing is also nonprofit owned andoperated: nonprofit landlords ensure that property management issues are dealt with expeditiously and that the housing is good quality. And supportive housing for youth is not permanent: it is offered only until a youth turns 26years old.

Do I have to pay rent? Yes, like all tenants, supportive housing tenantsmust pay rent. But unlike tenants in unsubsidizedhousing, supportive housing tenants only need topay a third of their income towards rent, whateverthat income may be.

Will the staff in supportive housing help me get agood job, go back to school, get my own apartment?Yes: staff in supportive housing will work with youto help you acquire the skills to be productive, fulfilled adults, including help managing health, mental health and addiction issues, going back to school, learning a trade, helpgetting and keeping a job, help dealing withtrauma, parenting and connecting to family.

“I don’t know ofanywhere elsewhere I couldhave found asmuch help.”