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Two
New Housing Projects on the Horizon
The
security and stability of permanent shelter fulfills our most basic
and profound needs. This holds especially true for persons with mental
illness who, without housing stability, historically relapse, perpetuating
a cycle of treatment and failure and the repeated use of expensive community
services such as hospital emergency rooms and jails. Though many mentally
ill people live independently with periodic need for support, others
struggle daily to have a roof over their heads. Experience teaches us
that mentally ill persons are not only more motivated to participate
in their recovery efforts when they have a place to call home, but are
also significantly more successful. With this in mind, CPC is developing
two new housing projects with the assistance of Common Ground, a non-profit
housing consultant, to help meet the needs of at-risk, low-income persons
affected by mental illness. The intent of these programs is to help
fill housing resource gaps that currently exist in our community and
are increasing in affordable housing.
Albion
Place
 CPC
has partnered with Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) to develop and construct
Albion Place, a 12-unit apartment building for mentally ill adults in
need of permanent, supported, affordable housing. Albion Place will
serve adults living with chronic mental illness who may be homeless
or living in a more restrictive facility, but are capable of living
independently in the community with appropriate supports. Persons with
chronic mental illness are unable to access independent, non-subsidized
housing in Seattle due to their limited economic resources and ever
increasing rents in the Seattle market. The primary source of income
for over two-thirds of the mentally ill population is Social Security
(SSI or SSDI) or public assistance (GAU) with monthly incomes ranging
from $339 - $539. The projected resident population of Albion Place
is estimated to receive an average of 11% of area median income, or
$150 per month.
Albion Place will provide a supportive housing environment with access
to mental health and chemical dependency treatment and employment. Support
services will be provided by CPC through funded, licensed and certified
treatment and service programs operated by the agency. Some services
will be provided on-site in the form of home visits, on-site skills
training, and provision of recreational and socialization opportunities
for residents. The remainder will be provided at Keystone, a residential
treatment facility adjacent to the building and other nearby outpatient
treatment sites, drop-in and day treatment programs, and vocational
service sites operated by CPC and within walking distance. This project
is unique in that it will provide an opportunity for mentally ill individuals
who could not otherwise live independently, to have the structure and
support of a larger established community and live in an independent,
supportive setting.
The building will be constructed on the southwest corner of Albion Place
North and North 36th Street in the Fremont/Wallingford neighborhood
of Seattle, on a parcel of land owned by SHA. The site is adjacent to
Keystone and Coach House, residential facilities operated by CPC. In
support of the long-term viability of this project, SHA will provide
the land on which the project is built in the form of a 50-year lease
with two 25-year renewals. SHA has also committed Section 8 subsidies
to the project for 40 years, assuring ongoing affordability for residents.
This will allow residents with limited public entitlement income to
pay only 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Albion Place will be a homelike three-story structure, with 12 independent
living units, common areas, and community living spaces including a
lounge, shared laundry facility, fully equipped common kitchen and dining
area. Each studio apartment will have a private bath, living area and
kitchenette. Construction will begin in the winter of 2003, and is estimated
to be completed in the summer of 2004. Once furnished, household items
for Albion Place such as bedding, dishes, towels, and cookware, will
be procured from Seattle’s local church community who have helped
CPC accessorize other housing facilities in the past through “adopt-a-room”
or “adopt-a-resident” campaigns. If you or your church group
would be interested in supporting this project, please contact Jennifer
Lynch, Development Coordinator, at 206-545-2345.
The
Willows
Slated
for construction in the fall of 2003, this 16-unit transitional housing
facility will serve the region’s most vulnerable citizens; single
parents with co-occurring disorders of mental illness and chemical dependency
and their children. Developed in partnership with the University of
Washington’s Parent-Child Assistance Program (P-CAP), The Willows
will be a vital resource for families during their recovery process
and will offer substantially increased opportunities to help families
move toward stability and self-sufficiency.
All supportive services and treatment for Willows residents will be
provided by CPC through licensed and certified treatment programs funded
through the King County Mental Health Chemical Abuse and Dependency
Services Division. Some services will be provided on-site in the form
of skills training, parenting classes, cooking classes and vocational
skills training. The remainder will be provided at outpatient mental
health and chemical dependency treatment sites, day treatment sites,
and job service sites operated by CPC.
People with mental illnesses, particularly illnesses that go untreated,
often abuse alcohol and/or drugs to alleviate symptoms of their mental
disorders. Implementing an integrated approach to treat these two disorders
simultaneously has proven to be beneficial for hundreds of clients served
by CPC. CPC’s Bridgeway Recovery Program and Child & Family
Services Program will work in conjunction to provide coordinated treatment
services to Willows residents. These two programs will work closely
with Willows residents and with the University of Washington’s
Parent-Child Assistance Program to implement an integrated model of
treatment designed to help these women achieve a chemical-free lifestyle,
gain psychiatric stability, and raise their children in a healthy family
environment.
Families accepted into The Willows will stay in residence an average
of seven to 15 months. Residents of The Willows will be adults who are
below 30% of median income, with most falling at 15% of area median
income. These income levels are significantly below the fair market
rents for Puget Sound communities, even for low-income housing, and
result in these families being shut out of the housing market.
 The
Willows will be constructed on a currently vacant site in the White
Center neighborhood of Seattle. The two-story building will be designed
in a U-shape configuration around a central courtyard and play area.
Three living clusters will house five families each. Each cluster will
have a communal living room, quiet lounge, kitchen/dining room, laundry,
and private bathrooms and bedrooms that can be adapted to the size of
each family. On site social services offices and counseling rooms will
be provided for residents and staff. A resident manager will provide
assistance and support to the residents, whose health and safety has
been an important consideration throughout the project’s design.
Implemented in 1991 by the University of Washington’s School of
Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, P-CAP is
an award-winning intervention program that helps families develop healthy,
independent lives. A very significant needed P-CAP program resource
has been a dedicated housing facility for the many homeless women they
serve. The Willows will fill that gap by providing an opportunity for
families living in dangerous and precarious situations, to be safe and
supported in a stable home environment. P-CAP staff will make referrals,
assess each resident’s ongoing needs, serve as an advocate for,
and be involved with each family for a period of three years, throughout
the duration and following their stay at The Willows. P-CAP program
goals include assisting clients in: obtaining alcohol and/or drug treatment;
staying in recovery and resolving complex issues arising from substance
abuse; assuring that children are in a safe home environment and receive
appropriate health care; linking parents to community resources, and;
demonstrating to community service providers successful strategies for
working with families to prevent the births of future alcohol and drug
affected children.
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