a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation
Our Mission: Innovations toward housing stability.
Our Philosophy
We recommend that individuals – especially those with disabilities – receive supportive services that include legal as well as psychological and medical assistance for as long as necessary. Fostering independence and promoting normalization are two primary professional rehabilitation strategies. We endorse the rehabilitation principle of “independence” wherein each homeless individual, couple or family will be provided the most independent living arrangement possible. We also endorse the basic rehabilitation principle of “normalization” wherein tenants are expected to meet normal housing requirements (such as those outlined in a standard lease) - not exceptional housing requirements incorporating excessive, invasive and/or coercive rules.
We intend to explore out nation’s tendency to “blame the victims” of homelessness and
instead encourage municipalities to focus on the compassionate strategies recommended by rehabilitation psychologist Mary McLaughlin, PhD, our Executive Director.
Our Goals
The overall goal of our projects is to increase and expand housing options in order to prevent and reduce homelessness. A related goal is to stem the cycling and recycling of homeless and disabled individuals among jails, hospitals, substandard housing units and the streets. We intend to serve as a national role model for the successful housing and retention of homeless, disabled and disadvantaged individuals.
Our Environments
Each unique development will be a rehabilitation-centered environment. Housing units will incorporate design elements to facilitate the housing stability of individuals with those disorders most associated with chronic homelessness, that is, psychiatric disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Residents will be encouraged to focus on recovering their health, resolving legal issues and achieving financial stability. They will receive individualized recommendations to ongoing social supports and health related services. Housing will be offered pursuant to the Housing First philosophy.
Philosophy & Affiliations
Affiliations
We have developed strong and successful working relationships with physicians, mental health care organizations, rehabilitation services providers, social services organizations, attorneys, homeless advocates, as well as with our homeless and formerly homeless colleagues across the nation.
We have developed research affiliations with two of our nation’s Ivy League universities.
We maintain long-term affiliations with our former student interns, now graduates of several of our nation’s leading colleges and universities. They have evolved to volunteer status.
Our Goals
Our primary goal is to influence the direction of public health policies that will support
permanent Housing First initiatives. Options may include individual apartments, supportive group homes, as well as transitional housing on a time limited basis.
A related goal is to end the cycling and recycling of homeless and disabled individuals
among shelters, jails, prisons, hospitals, transitional housing units, rehabilitation
facilities, and the streets.
We intend to address the inappropriate burden that unresolved homelessness places on
area neighborhoods, businesses, restaurants, libraries, public parks, and transportation
facilities.
We plan to serve as a national role model for the successful housing, stability and
long term retention of homeless, disabled, and disadvantaged individuals and families.
We intend to continue developing and promoting recommendations with respect to the
provision of individualized health care, rehabilitation, legal, and social services
plans that serve to sustain and maintain long term housing stability.
Mary McLaughlin, PhD
Visit my website:
http://www.drmarymclaughlin.org
Contact Me:
drmmclaughlin@gmail.com
Our Mission: Homelessness Research and Advocacy
Mary McLaughlin, PhD
Executive Director