spread awareness about the project
CHICAGO: A northwest suburban group called the Housing Task Force is working to create permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people with mental illness and other disabilities.
The main thrust in a PSH development is that each resident will have his or her own apartment, complete with kitchen and bathroom, and a lease. Residents can live at a PSH building as long as they wish, provided they pay their rent and abide by the terms of the lease. Rents are subsidized by the local housing authority, so they are affordable.
The Task Force is an all-volunteer non-profit organization. It works with private developers and social service providers to create PSH. Its role is to help build public awareness and support for PSH buildings.
The Task Force is currently working on PhilHaven, a similar project in Wheeling. It has been approved by the village and is now awaiting funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. It is working on another project, Catherine Alice Gardens in Palatine. The group is circulating petitions to show the Palatine Village Council that the project has wide public support.
Supportive services, such as social work and case management are provided on-site by a local community mental health center or medical center. PSH has proven over the years to be remarkably effective in helping people with disabilities on their journeys toward recovery. PSH is also very cost-effective, costing much less that other alternatives such as nursing homes or homeless shelters.
Last June, the Task Force’s partners opened Myers Place, a 39 unit PSH building in Mt. Prospect. On-site support services are provided by the Kenneth Young Center, the community mental health and senior center for Elk Grove and Schaumburg Townships.
Surendra Ullal
