mHEALTH Project Description
mHEALTH (Medical Home Engagement and Aligning Lifestyles and Transition from Homelessness) is a program to engage and retain HIV positive, homeless individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders into medical homes that provide HIV primary care, behavioral health, housing, and care coordination services. Yale Clinical and Community Research Program at the Yale School of Medicine is collaborating with the Connecticut Department of Correction and Liberty Community Services to improve the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) through integrated primary and behavioral healthcare, care coordination and assistance with housing and supportive services. The people we wish to help through this program are homeless PLWHA who are primarily transitioning from the criminal justice system (CJS) and those that are not retained in HIV care in New Haven, CT.
The mHEALTH program will include, but is not limited to: 1) creating and maintaining a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) through an expanded, new Collaborative Network of Services for PLWHA by expanding the existing New Haven Ryan White Consortium to promote access to and retention in primary HIV care for homeless PLWHA; 2) creating a referral form for interagency and Early Alert Service by deploying the city-wide RW Consortium electronic database to identify individuals who are no longer engaged in care; 3) provision of onsite addiction treatment and mental health services provided through a mobile outreach on the Community Health Care Van (CHCV) to ensure early intervention services (EIS); 4) use a Network Navigator (NN) to provide intensive case management (ICM) that includes elements of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and ACCESS programs to ensure that homeless PLWHA are fully engaged in a PCMH structure that will overcome individual, clinician and system level barriers to housing; and 5) provide directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) for homeless PLWHA who are struggling with adherence to ART.
People may self-refer. Case Managers may make referrals. Please use this link:
Click Here to Make Referral
Friday, October 4, 2013
mHEALTH Project Accepting Referrals
Area Agency on Aging
Connecticut Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are private, nonprofit service organizations that provide planning, program development and grant funding for older adult services. The AAAs receive federal Older Americans Act funds and state funds through the Connecticut Department of Social Services, Aging Services Division. They allocate funds to elderly service providers through a request for proposal process. Area Agencies on Aging provide direct services in the areas of community education, advocacy, case management, information and assistance, benefits counseling and training.
They also administer the CHOICES Program which provides older adults with health insurance counseling, information and referral to senior services, and eligibility screening for state and federal benefit programs. They also research and evaluate elderly issues, offer community education and serve as an advocate for older individuals. In Connecticut, there are five regional AAAs – one in each region of the state.
- Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging
http://www.swcaa.org/pages/home.php - South Central Connecticut Agency on Aging
http://www.aoapartnerships.org/ - Senior Resources – Agency on Aging – Eastern Connecticut
http://www.seniorresourcesec.org/ - North Central Area Agency on Aging
http://www.ncaaact.org/ - Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging
http://www.wcaaa.org/
COST
- No fee for services
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
- Connecticut residents
- Services are targeted for people ages 60+; People under age 60 who are disabled and who need assistance regarding Medicare issues can also use CHOICES
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by agency name:
- Southwest Connecticut Region: Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging
- South Central Connecticut Region: Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut
- East Connecticut Region: Senior Resources - Agency on Aging - Eastern Connecticut
- North Central Connecticut Region: North Central Area Agency on Aging
- Northwest Connecticut Region: Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2012
Thursday, October 3, 2013
VASH Vouchers Available!
Subject: CT BOS - VASH Vouchers available
Importance: High
Dear Providers:
At our CT BOS CoC Steering Committee meeting last week, Matt Abbott from the VA let us know that there are available VASH vouchers for chronically homeless persons/families currently available. If you have any interested clients, please contact him directly at Matthew.Abbott@va.gov
Sincerely,
Steve DiLella and John Merz
CT BOS CoC Co-Chairs
Importance: High
Dear Providers:
At our CT BOS CoC Steering Committee meeting last week, Matt Abbott from the VA let us know that there are available VASH vouchers for chronically homeless persons/families currently available. If you have any interested clients, please contact him directly at Matthew.Abbott@va.gov
Sincerely,
Steve DiLella and John Merz
CT BOS CoC Co-Chairs
Friday, September 27, 2013
Need Help Paying Bills?
New Haven rent assistance.
Get information on New Haven rent assistance programs. A number of agencies, non-profit organizations, and government programs provide rent help to low income individuals and families.
If you are faced with an eviction, or falling behind on your monthly rental payments, call or stop by a location in New Haven for details on rental assistance programs and services. A number of different grant programs and homeless prevention services and resources can be applied to for low income housing and/or rent help. Some provide emergency assistance, others offer longer term payments, counseling, and self-sufficiency. Also learn about government rent assistance such as Section 8 and homeless prevention and rapid rehousing.
Need Help Paying Bills?
Get information on New Haven rent assistance programs. A number of agencies, non-profit organizations, and government programs provide rent help to low income individuals and families.
If you are faced with an eviction, or falling behind on your monthly rental payments, call or stop by a location in New Haven for details on rental assistance programs and services. A number of different grant programs and homeless prevention services and resources can be applied to for low income housing and/or rent help. Some provide emergency assistance, others offer longer term payments, counseling, and self-sufficiency. Also learn about government rent assistance such as Section 8 and homeless prevention and rapid rehousing.
- Community Action Agency of New Haven – For people experiencing a financial emergency or short term hardship, they can provide onetime cash assistance, immediately, through a grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Money paid out is intended to help pay rent or mortgage if faced with an eviction or foreclosure. 781 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, phone (203) 387-7700.
- Community Mediation, Inc. – Access money to pay rent, as well as mediation to deal with landlord-tenant issues. The state offers a program from the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) which is a housing mediation program. It includes a rent payment option that can help pay a portion of the back rent or mortgage if facing eviction. Provides financial assistance and mediation to help landlords and tenants, or even homeowners and mortgage holders, resolve conflicts over back rent or loan payments. It can also deal with repairs, late rent payments, and other housing issues or expenses. In addition, applicants may receive assistance up to $1200 to pay their no more than one month's rent as well. Support is for people facing homelessness. Resident of Branford, East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven or West Haven can apply if you are experiencing a non-recurring, unexpected, documentable hardship. Applicants to the program need to have received a notice to quit or notice of foreclosure. Address is 32 Elm Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510. Call (203) 782-3500.
- Connecticut Social Services - Southern Regional Office, New Haven administers state and federal cash assistance for low income individuals and families with children, individuals or families who are elderly or disabled, and refugees. Dial (203) 974-8000.
- Columbus House, Inc. – Runs the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) program for the New Haven Connecticut region. It can offer cash grants and financial assistance, with the goal of preventing homelessness by providing financial and rental assistance to eligible families. Some of the people who can get help include individuals and couples without children who are homeless or facing possible homelessness. The program is intended to help applicants who but for this assistance, would be homeless or evicted from their home or apartment. It is not intended to be a long term charity program. The non-profit also offers comprehensive case management services agency-wide through emergency, permanent, and transitional housing. Specialists and on site case managers provide assessment and referrals to appropriate community services, including charities and state and federal government programs, to help clients identify and overcome many of the causes of their homelessness. 586 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, CT 06519, phone (203) 401-4400.
- Liberty Community Services, Inc. – Another New Haven non-profit that may be able to provides temporary, short term financial assistance for paying rent and housing costs. In addition, work with a counselor for housing relocation and stabilization services, which is being offered to people who are homeless or would be homeless but for this assistance. They do also administer eviction prevention assistance, which is intended to keep current housing or help people move to other housing. Other services include rental assistance for a maximum of 18 months, funds to pay up to 6 months back rent, security deposits and utility deposits, and even most cost expenses. 129 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, phone (203) 495-7600.
- New Haven Office of Management and Budget also runs the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. It can provide money for security deposits, short and long term rent funds too. Call (203) 946-8390.
- TEAM, INC. administers an eviction prevention program for the county. It is offered to qualified residents who are facing a one-time financial challenge and who need rental assistance. Your application will be reviewed. Note if you owe too much money you may not qualify. An eviction/notice to quite is also required. Location is 30 Elizabeth Street, Century Plaza, Derby, CT 06418-1846. Call (203) 736-5420.
- New Haven Home Recovery, Inc. – Offers assistance programs that serve families who are at imminent risk of homelessness, or who are homeless today. Apply for emergency rental assistance, including back rent. Money can also help pay for security and utility deposits. Even get money for heating and electric bills. Money can pay moving costs. Last, but not least, the agency is a great place for referrals to other local charities and agencies as well as shelters when appropriate. Free legal advice can be obtained too. They also run two family stabilization programs, one in Fair Haven and one in Bridgeport Connecticut. Address - 153 East Street, New Haven, CT 06511, (203) 492-4866.
- Continuum of Care, Inc. administers the Housing Resource Development Program. They offer financial assistance and housing placement. Program Staff search throughout Greater New Haven County area to help qualified people locate low income housing and staff also administer rental subsidy loans and rental supplemental grants for families and/or individuals with mental health needs who can live independently in the region. Apply for requests for rental assistance, and the organization may also providing bridge subsidy and security deposit loans to the low income. 67 Trumbull Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, dial (203) 401-2082.
- CMHC runs the New Haven Shelter Plus Care Program. The non-profit can offer financial assistance with rent expenses, support services, and access to either short term or permanent housing rental subsidies working poor and/or homeless individuals. Applicants need to have a serious, HIV/AIDS, or some other condition. The agency passes out rental assistance certificates. 319 Peck Street, Building #1, New Haven, CT 06513. Call (203) 764-6330.
- Elderly Services of New Haven offers the Rent Rebate Program for the Elderly & Disabled. Rebates and subsidies are offered. Address is 165 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, phone (203) 946-7854. Read more on housing programs for seniors.
Rental Assistance Program is run by the New Haven Department of Social Services. Phone (203) 757-1138. The state of Connecticut RAP program is the major state-funded program for helping very low-income individuals and families pay for safe, decent, yet affordable housing and apartments.
Need Help Paying Bills?
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tips for Sharing an Apartment
Roommates and Sharing an Apartment
Many renters often consider sharing an apartment. The main benefit we
found in our research is a financial one. With the rent cut in half, or
three ways perhaps, a larger apartment or one in a more exclusive area
can suddenly be affordable. But sharing an apartment isn’t always that
easy. With some tips you can make this transition into roommate life a
pleasurable one.
Helpful Tips for Finding a Roommate
— The Drawbacks of Sharing an Apartment
— Finding a Roommate
— Questions for a Potential Roommate
— Rooming with a Friend
— Roommate Agreements
— How to Eliminate Conflicts
- Benefits of Sharing an Apartment
Probably, the main
benefit of sharing an apartment is a financial one. Having a roommate
to share in the rent and other expenses allows you to perhaps have that
larger living space that was otherwise out of your price range, or maybe
you can move into that apartment in a great location which had a higher
rental rate. In this case, a roommate could be a blessing, especially
if you both love the apartment and the neighborhood. a roommate also can
help share in house hold duties like cleaning, dishes, and laundry.
Sharing the work makes life easier, especially if you work full-time or
have a job in which you travel a bit. If you are away, the plants will
still get watered and the cat fed by your roommate, and of course you
will do the same for him or her. Once you work out personal and
financial responsibilities, have a roommate can be quite nice. There
will be always someone there to talk to, share the day with, and give
support to. Loneliness will be at a minimum.
- The Drawbacks of Sharing an Apartment
Inevitably
personalities clash. Often you’ll meet someone and have so much in
common, feel like you’ve found a best friend or a sister or brother of
sorts, only to realize months down the line that this person is not what
they seemed. This is always the risk with finding a roommate,
especially one you’ve never met before, and is one of the biggest
disadvantages of sharing an apartment. If you find that you simply
cannot get along over time, it maybe difficult to get out of the rental
situation, especially if a lease has been signed. If you’ve overstepped
with your money due to having a roommate share the expenses, this could
be a big problem. If they split, you could be stuck with full
responsibility. It would be advantageous to have both of you sign a
rental agreement that holds both of you accountable for rent and other
expenses should this happen.
Lack of privacy is
often another complaint with roommates sharing an apartment. If you are a
people person and don’t like to be alone, a roommate is a perfect idea,
but there are still times when one needs a little space and their own
privacy. Often you may want to do something when you get home from a
long day at work, and find your roommate entertaining a few friends or
watching TV. Setting boundaries, and schedules for guests is paramount
to a good roommate relationship.
Division of chores is
another difficulty, especially if one of you isn’t as neat as the other.
Often a renter will complain that they live with a slob, or someone who
doesn’t pull their own weight when it comes to cleaning up the
apartment. Again, a schedule should be set to clarify who does what in
you apartment, and the person held accountable if they don’t.
- Finding a Roommate
Finding
a great roommate can be difficult, especially finding someone who is
compatible with your personality. Finding someone who you can get along
with, have similar interests, and setting up apartment responsibilities
and guidelines will be a great advantage. Creating and signing a
roommate agreement will help make an easier transition into sharing an
apartment. You can advertise for a roommate in the local paper or local
magazines. This will open you up to a lot of phone calls, perhaps some
one-on- one meetings in public places, and possible visits to your
apartment or theirs. In any case, it is wise to be very cautious, not to
go alone to meetings, and have a few conversations before hand to get a
better feel on the person involved.
Roommates.com
is a roommate finding site especially designed with renters who want to
share their apartment living space. It is easy to use, easy to explore,
and it’s free. When we checked it out we found the
site well organized. You can make a profile of yourself, listing what
your likes and dislikes are, the area you live in, your schedule, etc.
You can upload a profile picture, and pictures the apartment you wish to
share. There is a sample profile right on the front page of the site to
get an idea of how to do this. Then you simply search for the city you
live in, or are looking to move to, and view other potential roommate
profiles. You will see all the other posted pictures and profiles. One
testimonial stated that Roommates.com was a safe, secure way to
interview a new roommate. We highly recommend this site if you are
looking for someone you don’t know to room with.
- Questions for a Potential Roommate
Be open when
interviewing a new roommate. Listen carefully. And be willing to answer
their questions also. The following are some questions to ask:
- Have you been a roommate in the past?
- Why did you move out?
- Did anything your previous roommate do really bother you?
- What kind of job do you have? How long have you worked there?
- What is your work schedule like?
- On average, what time do you go to bed and wake up?
- Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?
- Do you smoke?
- Do you use drugs or drink?
- Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Will they be staying over and how frequently?
- Do you consider yourself to be a neat or a messy person?
- Will you work together to keep the apartment clean?
- Will you share the cost of groceries and cleaning products for the apartment?
- Do you follow a specific diet, vegetarian, vegan, diabetic, or any other?
- If you watch television, what do you like to watch? How often do you watch TV?
- Do you have a lot of friends that will be visiting?
- Will you have parties?
- Are you a musician? What instrument do you play? Do you practice and how often?
- Will you co-sign a lease?
- References? Previous roommate references? Landlord references?
You
of course can add to this list any particular things you’d like to know
or share with a potential roommate. Keep in mind that some of these
questions can be an automatic yes or no with the person interviewed. For
example, if they have a cat, and you are allergic to cats this can be
the deal breaker. Smokers and non-smokers can be another problem.
- Rooming with a Friend
Sharing your apartment
with someone you already know can be an easiest way to find a roommate.
All the “getting-to-know” ground-work is already done. You know that
you both share similar interests and perhaps your schedules are
compatible. The interviewing process would be basically unnecessary.
However, keep in mind that living in close proximity with someone, even a
person you know well, can have challenges. You learn quite a bit more
about a person when you live with them, and you may not like everything
you find. Patience and understanding are keys to keeping a good roommate
relationship with a friend. Build your renting partnership with trust,
understanding and honesty, and we also recommend that you make a written
renters agreement together, even though he or she is a friend. This way
there will be no misunderstandings, financial or otherwise, in the
future and you friendship will endure beyond your years of rooming
together.
- Roommate Agreements
Here are a few ideas
on how to keep roommate frustrations to a minimum. Consider the
following items when forming an agreement with your new roommate (or
friend-roommate!).
- Space issues – What areas are to be shared in the apartment and what areas are to be private (bedroom, bathroom, etc.).
- Personal Items – How food and other items are to be shared such as shampoos, towels, medicines. Set standards of usage. Label items with your name if necessary to set boundaries and ease confusion.
- Cleanliness – Hopefully you are both on the same page when it comes to keeping the apartment clean and are both willing to contribute. Create a cleaning schedule with who does what each week.
- Noise – Agree on noise levels during certain times of day, such as music playing, instrument playing, or television watching.
- Expenses – Perhaps the most important consideration. Money is the toughest issue between people but has to be dealt with respectfully. Agree to who pays for what and the splitting of rent and expenses ahead of time to save a lot of future disagreements.
- Storage – The storage space in you apartment can be limited. Examine the areas together and divide as evenly as possible. Areas to consider are: kitchen cabinet shelves, refrigerator shelves or drawers, bathroom storage spaces, and closets.
- Overnight Guests and Parties – Set limits or notice times (like a day or two beforehand) that need to be given to your roommate so that no surprises or problems arise that could ruin an otherwise fun occasion.
More information on Roommate agreements here.
- How to Eliminate Conflicts
Here are just a few suggestions on how to keep a roommate relationship in balance when the inevitable conflict arises.
First, be sure to be
calm when confrontation is necessary. Saving yourself up with your
anger, and exploding the first chance you get to talk with your roommate
will not help the situation. Instead speak openly and focus on the
problem at hand, not on multiple things that may be bothering you.
Ask each other what
you can do together to change the present situation. Perhaps your
roommate keeps using your favorite shampoo. Does she need her own? Can
she afford it? What can each of you do to keep the problem from
happening again?
Find out the needs and
personal thoughts on the issue before jumping in with attack words.
Your roommate may be thinking one way about something, and you another.
Conversations that start with you both on the same page will be more
beneficial.
And lastly, consider
bringing in a mediator to help with a larger or deeper problem between
you and your roommate. A neutral party can clarify things, and bring new
light to the situation.
http://www.apartmentsilike.com/cms/renters-news/sharing-an-apartment
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
What about Transitional Housing?
|
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
SNAPS Weekly Focus:
Rapid Re-Housing |
|
Last week, we talked about
the Housing First approach and how it is both a cost-effective and successful
model for addressing the needs of the people we serve. This week, we’re going
to discuss another model that has proven to be effective and which follows a
Housing First approach: rapid re-housing.
When I am out doing public speaking I find that people are
asking me “what exactly is rapid re-housing?”
I realized that in the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and Emergency
Solutions Grants (ESG) Program interim rules, we tell our recipients what funds can be
used to do rapid re-housing, but not how
to do rapid re-housing. While that is appropriate for regulations, which
define how federal funds can be used, it points to the need for information
about the model itself. However, that is a challenge because there are many
successful models at the local level which are different depending on the
population they are serving, what their local housing market looks like, and
the scope and nature of homelessness in a given community.
But there are some core elements we have identified as
critical to the model:
HUD encourages communities to think critically about how rapid
re-housing can benefit homeless individuals and families, and work to include
rapid re-housing as part of the overall homeless program portfolio. As you
saw in the recently released Fiscal
Year 2013 CoC Registration Notice, this type of intervention is one of
only two allowable types of new projects created through reallocation in the
CoC Program competition. While rapid re-housing can be used effectively for
many homeless populations, preliminary evidence indicates that it is
particularly effective for households with children. Data from HPRP indicate
that as high as 90 percent of families that receive rapid re-housing assistance
exited the program to permanent housing.
Here are some reasons why communities are encouraged to create
more rapid re-housing:
To help guide your local discussions and program design, HUD
will be releasing two products in the coming weeks: a webinar to be conducted
with our federal and national partners on why rapid re-housing is an
important component of an effective system, and a short guide on the model
itself.
Don’t forget to check back to SNAPS Weekly Focus page over the coming weeks as we will
continue to post related materials and TA products related to each weekly
focus, as they become available.
As always, we thank you for your commitment to ending
homelessness.
Ann Marie Oliva
Director, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs |
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