CO-OPERATIVE APARTMENT PROGRAM

HP has two program sites located right next to each other.  The first site is the group home or as it is often referred to as the main house.  The second site is the cooperative apartment program.

Located right next door to the main house is a legal five family apartment building. There are four apartments for veterans and a meeting room/office. This program was opened in 1992 as a direct response to the need of veterans who had stabilized at the main house and desired a less restrictive, more independent, yet still supported setting. In this environment veterans purchase their own groceries, prepare their own meals and maintain their apartments with limited staff supervision.

In 1992, the group home model had worked so well that some of our higher functioning veterans were experiencing their first period of stabilization since the onset of their mental health disorder. As most of our residents carry a diagnosis of some form of schizophrenia or major depression, their conditions can be treated, but as of yet, there is no cure. Therefore, we felt that although the residents had stabilized, they would continue to require consistent supports in order to maintain that stability.

In fear that they would simply move into the community without support and decompensate once again, we saw the need to create a step-up program for the more independent veterans. As a result, Susan and Bernadette again purchased an additional property that had been abandoned next door to the group home. Because they had used all of their personal financial resources for acquisition and operation of both buildings, the founders could only afford to renovate about one apartment a year in this new building. After replacing the roof and windows, as each apartment was renovated, veterans with the potential skills for higher independence were transitioned to the new cooperative apartment program setting.

Although there is no live-in staff at this site, residents of this program still receive support from staff at the main house. Staff makes at least three weekly visits to each apartment to work with the veterans on menu planning, laundry, house cleaning and other ADL skills. Those who need assistance with money management and are given this assistance as needed. Residents of the apartment program also check in at the main house several times daily.