PATHWAYS TO HOUSING NY INC

PATHWAYS TO HOUSING NY INC PATHWAYS TO HOUSING WAS FOUNDED BY DR. SAM TSEMBERIS IN 1992, AND IS WIDELY CREDITED AS BEING THE ORIGINATOR OF THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AMONG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL IS SIMPLE: PROVIDE HOUSING FIRST, AND THEN COMBINE THAT HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT. HOUSING IS PROVIDED IN APARTMENTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT A COMMUNITY. THIS "SCATTERED SITE" MODEL FOSTERS A SENSE OF HOME AND SELF-DETERMINATION, AND IT HELPS SPEED THE REINTEGRATION OF PATHWAYS' CLIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL HAS BEEN REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL IN ADDRESSING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, HOUSING FIRST HAS HOUSED MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE IN NEW YORK ALONE, AND THE PROGRAM MAINTAINS AN 85% RETENTION RATE EVEN AMONGST THOSE INDIVIDUALS NOT CONSIDERED "HOUSING READY" BY OTHER PROGRAMS.