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Housing & Support Services
Unity House offers several housing options so that adults with mental illness, people with HIV/AIDS, people who are homeless, and victims of domestic violence can live safely and self sufficiently in the community with dignity and independence. Housing services are provided on an individual's level of functioning and personal choice at the least restrictive level of care.
Housing and Support Services Programs
- Case Management Services
- Adults Living Mental Illness and/or Chemical Abuse
- HIV/AIDS
- Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
- Community Residence Services
- MICA Residence
- Situational Crisis Bed
- Supported Housing
- Adults living with mental illness
- People living with HIV/AIDS
- Victims of domestic violence
- Transitional Apartment Services (TAS)
Case Management Services
Unity House's Housing and Support Services Program provides ongoing case management services for adults living with mental illness, people living with HIV/AIDS and/or people with chemical abuse.
Adults Living with Mental Illness and/or Chemical Abuse
Case Management Services works with both young adults and adults with mental illness and chemical abuse. Unity House staff meet with people to assess their service needs and provide case management services including making referrals and coordinating care. If the individual requires Unity House's Community Residence Services, the case manager continues to work with him/her in the community. Individuals may remain with family or in an independent apartment if they chose. Case managers provide direct service 1-3 times per week, based on an individual's need. The level of service is diverse and intensive and may include: independent living skills training, obtaining and maintaining housing, utilities and employment, coordinating with providers and connecting clients to community resources. Services continue on a time-limited basis until services are no longer needed.
Admission Criteria for Case Management for Adults Living with Mental Illness and/or Chemical Abuse:
Young adult case management
- Individuals must be 17-35 years of age.
- Have a primary psychiatric diagnosis.
- Priority is granted to Rensselaer County residents.
Chemical Abuse (MICA) Case Management
- Individuals must be at least 18 years of age.
- Have a primary psychiatric and substance abuse diagnosis.
- Individuals must be affiliated with an outpatient mental health treatment provider.
To make a referral, please contact the Supported Housing Director at 518.272.1611 x245.
People Living with HIV/AIDS
The Supported Housing Program for people living with HIV/AIDS provides intensive, family-centered case management services to HIV infected and high risk persons who are identified as having had difficulty accessing medical care and/or other services, and who require frequent personal contacts and/or home visitation to ensure their return for medical care and other needed services.
Admission Criteria for Supported Housing for People Living with HIV/AIDS:
- HIV +
- Medicaid eligible.
For intake or more information, call the Supported Housing Director at 518.272.1611 x245.
Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
The Unity House Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) provides comprehensive case management services including assistance in securing and maintaining permanent housing. Through a network of support services, home visits, daily living skills training, symptom management and social skills development, services are tailored to meet individual needs.
Other information:
- Rent stipends are provided based on consumer income.
- No program fee.
- Peer support provided evenings and weekends to assist with activities of daily living, socialization, transportation and emotional support.
Admission Criteria:
- Mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis.
- Homeless.
- Income eligible.
- Able to self-medicate.
- Able to maintain an apartment in the community.
For intake or more information, call the Supported Housing Director at 518.272.1611 x228.
Community Residence Services
The Unity House Community Residence Services Program fosters a structured, supportive environment for individuals to learn daily living skills such as cooking, medication management, budgeting and personal care. Individuals are integrated into the community by involving them in off-site day programming and community activities at a pace commensurate with their function and coping abilities.
Other information:
- Staff provide intensive training and assistance to residents.
- As individuals increase their independence and acquire skills, they may transition to a less structured setting.
Admission Criteria:
- Individuals must have a primary psychiatric diagnosis.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Affiliation with an outpatient mental health treatment provider.
To make a referral or to obtain more information, please contact the Housing Support Services Director at 518.272.1611 x227.
MICA Residence
The Unity House MICA Residence Program offers a 12-bed supervised community residence for adults with co-existing mental health and chemical dependency diagnosis. The MICA Residence primary goal is to improve clients functional abilities in the areas of mental health and chemical dependency and to enable movement towards independent living and reintegration into the community.
Admission Criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must have a primary mental health diagnosis and co-existing substance abuse/dependence diagnosis.
- Must have demonstrated an inability to function well in a less supervised setting (particularly related to chemical abuse).
- Must be currently involved or willing to participate in clinical mental health/chemical dependency treatment.
- Not in immediate need of detoxification services
- Medically able to participate fully in the program.
- In-county referrals will take precedence over out-of-county referrals.
To make a referral or to obtain more information, please contact the Housing Support Services Director at 518.272.1611 x227.
Situational Crisis Bed
The Unity House Situational Crisis Bed is located in designated community residence and serves as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization for people experiencing acute symptoms of their mental illness. The Situational Crisis Bed can be used to prevent an inpatient admission or to shorten the length of an inpatient stay for a person returning to the community. Services provided when a person is in the Situational Crisis Bed include: crisis management, medication supervision and coordinated treatment within the 24-hour Community Residence. The length of stay in the Situational Crisis Bed is one to seven days.
To make a referral please contact the Housing Support Services Director at 518.272.1611 x227 or 518.422.3498.
Supported Housing
The Unity House Supported Housing Program is available to adults living with mental illness, people living with HIV/AIDS or victims of domestic violence.
Adults Living with Mental Illness
The Supported Housing Program for adults living with mental illness provides comprehensive case management services including assistance in securing and maintaining permanent housing and a network of support services, home visits, daily living skills training, symptom management and social skills development.
Admission Criteria for Supported Housing for Adults Living with Mental Illness:
- Mental health diagnosis.
- Income eligible.
- Ability to self-medicate and maintain an apartment in the community.
For intake or more information, call the Supported Housing Director at 518.272.1611 x245.
People Living with HIV/AIDS
The Supported Housing Program for people living with HIV/AIDS provides assistance in securing and maintaining safe, permanent housing as well as comprehensive case management services including home visits, individualized service plans, transportation to medical/treatment providers, advocacy and referrals.
Admission Criteria for Supported Housing for People Living with HIV/AIDS:
- Diagnosis of HIV + or living with AIDS.
- Homeless or at risk of being homeless.
- Ability to self-preserve.
For intake or more information, call the Supported Housing Director at 518.272.1611 x245.
Victims of Domestic Violence
The Supported Housing Program for victims of domestic violence provides comprehensive case management services including affordable housing and assistance in securing and maintaining safe permanent housing, home visits, life skills training, advocacy, referrals, legal services, support services, safety planning and individual counseling.
Admission Criteria for Supported Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence:
- Victim of domestic violence, homeless. mental health diagnosis and/or substance abuse
- Must be income eligible.
For intake or more information, call Domestic Violence Emergency Service Director at 518.272.5917.
Other information related to all three programs:
- Services a client-centered and tailored to meet individual needs.
- Rent stipends provided based on consumer income.
- No program fee.
Transitional Apartment Services (TAS)
The Unity House Transitional Apartment Services Program (TAS) provides safe, secure furnished apartments for adults with mental illness. Services are provided through home visits up to 7 days a week, based upon individual needs. TAS is regulated by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).
Other information:
- Rehabilitative services are provided.
- Individual Services Plans are created and cover: apartment management, daily living skills training, case management, medication management, entitlement assistance, and coordination of services with other service providers.
- Program fee based upon income.
- Peer support provided evenings and weekends to assist with activities of daily living, socialization, transportation and emotional support.
Admission Criteria:
- Primary psychiatric diagnosis.
- Affiliation with an outpatient mental health treatment provider.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must be a resident of Rensselaer County.
For intake or to obtain more information, please contact the Housing Support Services Director at 518.272.1611 x227.