The following comes to us from OMH and is a summary of how the process should work for clients with no, or limited, access to food when they move into a Supported Housing Apartment. This is not new information – just a summary of previously communicated policy.
Moving into a supported apartment:
Access to suitable housing is facilitated by the housing provider assisting the recipient with establishing a household. Providers offer assistance to recipients in locating a suitable apartment; lease negotiation; and reviewing and understanding lease terms. The Provider should ensure that recipients are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as other tenants. If housemates are involved, the Provider will facilitate cooperative housemate agreements on bill payments, division of household responsibilities, etc.
Operational funds may be provided under Supported Housing to assist recipients in meeting initial expenses incurred in establishing residences. Such expenses may include, but are not limited to, brokers’ fees, rent and security deposits, utility installation fees, household furnishings, moving costs and initial food acquisition.
Food Issues:
Food needs are evaluated prior to the move to supported housing as part of the care planning process. In cases where the resident does not have funding for food, the housing provider and care manager develop a plan to support the recipient with grocery purchases and escorts to local food pantries. The new recipients will receive food using recipient resources, and/or local resources including, but not limited to, expedited food stamps (where eligible), local food pantries/banks and meals on wheels. Additionally the housing provider can supplement that with groceries when necessary based on lack of options available. The funds supporting this supplement could come from a variety of sources, such as startup funding (this is the initial operational dollars an agency receives as part of setting up a new supported apartment), contingency funds (limited funding available for emergencies), and/or care management service dollars (service categories include Emergency Purchases and Client-Specific Services for food/meals which address costs of meals, groceries, or other necessary food items).
Who does what:
When an individual has a health home care manager it would be the expectation that the care manager begin the process for benefits as soon as they are enrolled into the care management program.
Upon referral and acceptance into the housing program, as a team, the collaboration, communication and coordination of service provision for the recipient begins and, the discussion of next steps should begin. The care manager will ensure that any needs addressing food are included in the care plan.
When the individual moves into the supported housing apartment the supported housing provider would ensure the recipient has access and/or has secured food with/for the recipient.
Ongoing issues related to food should be addressed as appropriate to either housing provider (tenancy related issues) or health home care manager (behavioral health related issues).