Our permanent supportive housing is for people who are chronically homeless (meaning they have recurring bouts of homelessness), dealing with mental health or addiction issues, or are at-risk of becoming homeless.
VOA follows the “housing first” initiative which states that you cannot work on mental health or addiction without the basic human right of housing. Although the facilities are strictly drug free, people who relapse are not removed from their home as they work towards self-sufficiency. As long as residents do not inhibit progress of other tenants they can stay in their program.
Residents also work with case managers and 24-hour resident assistant staff to establish and achieve individual goals. Case managers work to keep people on track by providing the following guidance based on the individual needs of the resident:
- Daily living skills such as cooking and hygiene
- Connection to mental health and addiction counseling in the community
- Family, life, and emotional coaching
- Transportation to appointments, grocery stores, and job fairs
- Job readiness training and resume assistance
VOA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Programs in Binghamton include:
- 29 studio apartments for homeless men
- 10 units for families in need of supportive housing
VOA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Programs in Rochester include:
- 80 studio apartments for individuals