When people think of their recovery, they often look ahead to the day when they can support themselves through a combination of employment and education. But for many people, the most urgent goal is to have a home—a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live, with access to community resources and in close proximity to friends and supportive services. At Laurel House, we strive to help residents achieve this goal through various mental health programs.

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Connecticut’s emergency shelters served over 11,000 people in 2011. Data collected during the 2011 Connecticut Homelessness Point in Time Count (CT PIT) shows 41% of the Sheltered and Unsheltered Adults suffer from Severe Mental Illness. They are homeless for a number of reasons, including gaps in their independent living skills, addiction to drugs and alcohol, extended stays in hospitals, the long term loss of employment and the high cost of housing.
With help from Laurel House in the form of discounted rent and federally backed rental subsidy certificates, our residents can live in housing that is both a safe and affordable place to call home. But, rental subsidies alone are not enough to ensure a successful transition to stable housing. At Laurel House, we believe it is equally important for residents to have supportive services, without which the residents might not be able to maintain an apartment and live in the community.

Laurel House operates several supported housing programs in Connecticut, each offering varying levels of support with specific criteria for eligibility. Residents learn independent living skills  such as cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. They work together with a Life Skills Coach to identify and pursue their personal goals through an individualized support plan.  In addition, residents are helped to access psychiatrists, medical doctors, entitlements and other services and benefits to support their journey in recovery.
For some Laurel House residential programs, current homelessness, risk of homelessness or chronic homelessness are required for eligibility. Openings become available throughout the year, and waiting times can vary from one month to a year or longer, depending on apartment availability, support needs and homeless status.

In addition to our residential services, Laurel House also offers a variety of other programs designed to help residents achieve better mental health. These include Food and Wellness, a Thrift Store for furnishing apartments and wardrobes, social and recreational opportunities, the Recovery Connections program to build skills and achieve greater self-sufficiency, and our Supported Employment and Education programs.

Laurel House Residential Services – Defining Characteristics

• residents hold leases and are accorded the full rights and responsibilities of any tenant
• all housing is non-institutional and located in the community
• “supportive” housing is as the name suggests, not coercive or intrusive

• most residents share an apartment; all residents have a private bedroom