Genesis Club, Inc. 274 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA "Housing"

Genesis Housing Programs

Genesis Club’s goal is to support our members in being good neighbors and tenants as they live in their community.

We are dedicated to removing the stigma that people with mental illness are not good neighbors and tenants. We offer our members the support they need to reach the quality of life they desire.

HOUSING PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

Apartment Location Assistance

Help in Lease Negotiation

Tenant Rights Education

Aid in Household Item Acquisition

24 Hour Support Network

Clubhouse Services

Liaison between Clubhouse and Community

Genesis Club has been dedicated to helping our members find and maintain affordable housing, in an area of their choice, since our inception in 1988.

We continually have some members who are homeless or in need of better quality housing. We have continued to respond to this need by looking for creative ways to help our members find decent homes they can afford. Currently, 350 of our members live in apartments in the community.

Genesis currently has four housing programs as explained below :

1. HUD / Homeless Initiative: In1998 Genesis worked with HUD / McKinney to secure funds to assist twelve individuals move from homelessness to being housed. Under this program the members work with staff to find an apartment they like and set up housekeeping. This program offers intensive staff support. Members receiving support through this contract must have a rehab plan which guides home visits and other meetings. Since this program began, Genesis has helped 45 members move from homelessness to having a place they call home.

2. Supported Housing: This program began in 1999 and is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH). The goal is to help 18 DMH clients, who have had problems living independently, gain the skills necessary to keep their apartments and move towards independence. This program is staff intensive with weekly (more if necessary) home visits, extensive goal plans and monthly progress reviews.

3. Leased Housing: This Is funded by HUD through the Worcester County Continuum of Care. It provides subsidies to eight members who originated from homelessness and now live in apartments they chose in our community. These members are supported through their work units in the Clubhouse.

4. Belmont Street Homeless Project: – Genesis Club and the East Side Community Development Corporation worked together to receive funding, from various sources, to purchase and renovate a derelict building, making it into 10 units of housing for Genesis members. This project was designed to assist ten members of Genesis who are homeless to move into permanent housing. The member's individual work unit will provide the support which includes home visits, help with collecting furnishings, and problem solving.

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WORK OF THE UNIT:

Home visits

Help keep the club informed about subsidies for housing.

Give member advice about landlord and leases.

Manage paper work requirement to fulfill funder obligations.

Outreach.

Help members with financial management.

Housing support for all our members. Genesis members live in various types of housing situations, from living in homes they own to state funded group homes. The Housing unit offers support to all our members with any type of housing needs, including finding a rental subsidy, landlord negotiations, help with finding an affordable unit, finding assistance for home repairs and fuel assistance. We realize housing is a key part of helping our members find jobs and rebuild lives. We believe our members can be good neighbors and tenants in a community of their choice.