Hicksville, NY - December 14, 2015 - The New York State Office of Mental Health has awarded nonprofit CN Guidance & Counseling Services, one of the region’s central providers of services for people with mental health and substance use disorders two contracts to provide a total of 45 units of supported housing for adults in Suffolk County who experience serious mental illness.
The dozens of supported housing units aim to address a housing crisis on Long Island that disproportionately impacts people with mental health and substance use disorders. More than 1 in 3 homeless people experience severe mental illness or chronic substance use issues, according to studies published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“CN Guidance is excited to expand our services to fill a big gap,” said Jeffrey Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of CN Guidance. “These new resources will enable us to help community members who are most vulnerable to Long Island’s current homelessness crisis—people facing mental health and substance use disorders—to be housed in the community and to increase their quality of life.”
Supported Housing refers to a combination of apartments and services that enable people facing mental health challenges to live safely and successfully in the community, with increased independence and healthfulness. The announced programs, to be overseen by CN Guidance, will provide people who are otherwise at risk of homelessness with economically supported, safe homes in the community along with highly needed services such as case management, job training, life-skills training, alcohol and substance use treatment, childcare, and transportation assistance—all of which help keep people supported in their needs and natural capacity to live successfully in the community.
Supported Housing is part of a broader set of statewide healthcare and social service reforms aimed at improving home- and community-based services for vulnerable people while achieving better health outcomes; lower costs; and an optimal experience for all people receiving services.
About CN Guidance: CN Guidance & Counseling Services (CN Guidance) is a nonprofit organization launched in 1972 that provides clinical treatment, rehabilitation, housing opportunities, social and support services, counseling, and guidance to individuals, families and the community affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, psychological difficulties, addiction, and/or dependency problems. CN Guidance delivers its services to Long Island residents via 230+ staff, joined by student interns and volunteers. In addition to providing substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and case management services, CN Guidance offers clients a “Drop In” center for services and operates social enterprises including the Starry Night Café—which serve and support the organization’s mission and the growth and thriving of CN Guidance’s clients.