New York State has awarded $42 million to seven community-based organizations to create 200 scattered-site supportive housing units for adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, the funding will support Housing First placements for people enrolled in programs such as Safe Options Support, Intensive Mobile Treatment, and Shelter Partnered Assertive Community Treatment. Awardees include Options for Community Living, Comunilife Inc., CLUSTER, Venture House, and ACMH Inc.
The new units will be distributed across four boroughs, with 40 units planned in Queens, 40 in Manhattan, 40 in Brooklyn, and 80 in The Bronx. Funding awards include $3.1 million to Options for Community Living for 15 units in Queens; $17.6 million to Comunilife for 25 units in Queens, 20 in Manhattan, and 40 in Brooklyn; $8.3 million to CLUSTER for 40 units in The Bronx; $8.3 million to Venture House for 40 units in The Bronx; and $4.1 million to ACMH for 20 units in Manhattan.
State officials said the scattered-site model will provide affordable independent housing paired with individualized support services focused on housing retention, community integration, and recovery. Eligible residents may be experiencing homelessness while also living with mental illness, substance use disorder, physical health needs, or a combination of those challenges. The initiative uses a Housing First approach, which places people into permanent housing without requiring them to first complete treatment or move through a series of transitional programs…