Housing Options Made Easy, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that
subsidizes housing and community support for recipients of mental health
services. The agency provides safe and affordable housing for consumers in
four counties, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany, three of which are
considered rural.
Housing Options began in 1990, when a group of past and present
mental health consumers recognized the need to advocate for better and safer
housing for individuals being discharged from the hospitals. “I drew on my own
experiences,” said Ms. Judy Vega who became instrumental in the development of
the agency. “When I was leaving the hospital I needed assistance and it wasn’t
out there. At first I thought I was an isolated case, but as I made phone calls
and sent out surveys I found out that I was not alone.”
Thus began a grassroots movement, which started with a small
office on the grounds of the Gowanda Psychiatric Center. Ms. Vega was fond of
saying “we started with a shoe box that held the files.” With the support of
Dr. Mary Jo Hodges, a former administrator for the Gowanda Psychiatric Center,
Housing Options Made Easy, Inc. became incorporated in 1990.
Ms. Vega was fortunate not only for the support of Dr. Mary Jo
Hodges, but from people in Erie County, such as Kathy Lynch, Dick Chirrali,
Jerry Scott and Mike Wiener, to name a few. Ultimately in 1991 crisis beds for
housing were created on the grounds of the Gowanda Psychiatric Center, and in
1992 Judy Vega was hired as Executive Director.
Board members at the time consisted of Dr. Mary Jo Hodges, Anthony DeVito,
MSW, Donna Tarnish, ICM and Walter Horton representing the community. Consumers
at the time were, Sheila Ramsy, Annie Frasier, Herb Simmons who served on the
board until 2004, and Darren Fleegher who served as Board President until the
year 2000.
The agency began to grow and by 1993, received funding from NYS
to place 30 mental health recipients into safe and affordable housing in Erie
County. By Oct. of that year, 20 of these recipients had been placed in the
community. Arvela Heider was hired as grant writer.
It was an exciting year. Ms. Vega also began collaborating with
Doug Usiak, from the Independent Living Center, in Buffalo and with Anthony
DeVito from the Buffalo Psychiatric Center regarding a peer training and support
program. Mental health recipients would be trained and hired as Peer
Advocates. The peer would become role model for those moving into apartments
for the first time. It was also a way of providing mental health recipients
with meaningful work.
Mr. DeVito initially became involved with this project as
Discharge Coordinator for the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. Because of his
enthusiasm for this project he was asked to become part of the Supported Housing
Program for BPC.
He was quoted as saying, “it was rewarding to see the recipient’s potential
being realized”.
Today the agency continues to provide the Peer Advocacy Training,
and the program has grown. Classes are now held on site at the Gowanda main
office and is a full two-week training held twice a year. Many are sent from
other peer run agencies. Many have moved on to better employment, and many
because of this opportunity have gone back to school. The agency has become
recognized as one of the few to provide this extensive training in WNY.
All employees of Housing Options are peers who are in mental
health recovery. They share their strengths and experiences to assist others in
achieving personal goals. The Peer Advocate assists the recipients in finding
adequate and safe housing, finding and receiving services that they identify as
a need. Peer services continue for the duration of the rental stipend services
received from Housing Options, as the recipient strives for health, independence
and empowerment.
In 1994 after major renovations were completed Housing Options
took up residency in the large gray building on 75 Jamestown Street, where it is
currently located. They also purchased two vans that enabled them to provide
transportation for those living in the community.
The Mental Health Association also presented Housing Options with
two awards for Program and Outstanding Rehabilitation Agency of the Year.
The agency continued to grow and expand. By 1996 parenting
classes, networking classes, and a book club, were also added to the programs
available to recipients, and in 1998 The Peer Friendship and Resource Line was
established.
The Resource Line was unique in that it was a non-crises service
phone line that provided consumers in four counties a place to call after hours
and on weekends. Peers working on the line all go through the Peer Advocacy
Training and what made this line unique is that they were paid. The line was
open seven days a week and on holidays. It continues to be a success today,
with calls averaging out to 400 per month.
By 1999 as the agency grew, space was becoming limited.
Administrative staff now included not just Ms. Vega, who continued as Executive
Director, but Ms. Tammi Smith as Administrative Director, and Mr. Preston Danner
as Director of Finances. Mr. Denis Bouchard had been hired as Housing
Coordinator, and Jim Hiams was in charge of computers. Clerks included, Sharon
Kelly, receptionist, and Betty Smith Payroll clerk. In that year Anita Rusiecki
was hired as Support Services Supervisor.
If the first floor was crowded, the basement was becoming worse.
It housed the Friendship Line, three desk areas for peer advocates, as well as
another for Sandy Hooten, Peer Coordinator. It was also filled with tables for
group meetings and trainings, as well as the library.
Funds were finally appropriated to renovate the third floor, as
well as putting in an elevator, and the move to the third floor was completed in
January of 2000 providing more space for the growing agency.
Growth did not stop with just the renovations. By the time of
the agency’s 10th anniversary the agency went from a few crises beds, to 180
beds, covering four counties, Erie County, Cattaraugus, Chautaugua, and
Allegany.
Staff grew as well. In 1994 the handful of Peer Advocates were
trained and working out of Erie County. By 2000, over 26 Advocates were working
out of the four counties. Erie had two full time advocates and Catt. County one
full time advocate, and 23 hourly peers working throughout all four counties.
The agency celebrated their 10th anniversary on May 5th, 2000.
Ed Knight, Chief Executive officer of the Mental Health Empowerment Project was
the keynote speaker. A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mary Jo
Hodge who had been instrumental helping in the development of the agency in its
early days. A Media Award was also presenter to Rich Newburg from Channel 4.
He was given this award for his compassionate and informative coverage of mental
health issues in the community.
The year 2000 was also to become a year of changes for the
organization. As with any organization that grows, it was not without internal
problems. Organizational skills and abilities could not catch up with a growing
budget, and increasing and ever changing staff.
Ms. Tammy Smith resigned in Feb. of that year, and Mr. Glenn
Hooten was brought in as consultant to assist with the changes that needed to be
made. In June of that year because of physical problems Ms. Vega resigned,
followed by Mr. Danner. During this interim Mr. Hooten became Acting Executive
Director and eventually Executive Director.
The agency was again fortunate enough to have the support of Kathy Lynch,
from Recipient Affairs, as well as Dick Chirrali, Jerry Scott, and a host of
others, including Peter Asheden and Ike Powell from the Mental Health
Empowerment Project
Under Mr. Hooten’s leadership the agency continued to grow. Beds
were again added to Erie County and Cattaraugus County. A part time financial
consultant, Mr. James Carline, was hired, and well as Ms. Monica Boyd for the
Human Resource Dept.
In 2001 the Peer Accreditation association of Albany presented
Housing Options full accreditation, making the agency the only peer-accredited
facility in WNY.
Because the number of consumers and staff in Cattaraugus County
were accumulating at a rapid pace, in 2001 our first off site office was opened
in Olean. The staffing pattern consisted of one full time peer, one part time
peer, and three hourly peers. Everyone was excited. Staff no longer had to
work out of their homes and cars. They had a place where they could meet with
recipients, do their paper work and have it all in one spot. There was room for
meetings as well as groups. The agency also assigned a peer to work at the Drop
In Center two doors away.
Within six months another office in conjunction with the Mental
Health Association was opened in Jamestown, and by 2004 Erie County opened up
its office on Kensington Ave. They quickly outgrew this office, and in 2005 a
new office opened on Elmwood Ave.
In 2002 Housing Options received a Certificate of Appreciation
from Governor Pataki, for Standard of Achievement.
It was also the year the agency branched out. Under Mr. Hooten’s
leadership and with the approval of the board, Housing Options purchased two
homes on Chestnut Street in Gowanda. Both houses would provide six apartments
for mental health recipients. It was a highly successful investment. Mr. David
Spulecki was hired as Computer Specialist.
By 2003 board members had resigned and new ones joined. Cyndie
Koener became President after Donna Tarnish resigned. Mike Coffman, a former
employee became vice president, and eventually took over as President, a
position he holds today.
By the time the agency celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2005,
Housing Options was serving 231 mental health recipients in four counties, a far
cry from those 30 beds in Erie County. Staff was now full or part time, and
receiving full benefits. Two new vans were bought and in 2004 a van was
purchased for Olean.
But year 2005 was also to be a year of sadness for all involved
with Housing Options. Sandy Hooten passed away in Sept. of that year. Sandy
had always been a driving force at Housing Options when it came to the peer
movement. It was because of her influence that changes made for peers working
at Housing Options became possible. She left Housing Options in 2004 because of
an injury…but she was always a part of us.
Sandy’s passing not only affected the staff of Housing Options,
by all who knew her. In January of 2006 Mr. Glen Hooten resigned as Executive
Director.
Throughout the past 15 years staff have come and staff have gone,
as with any growing organization. Some to move to better things, others have
leaving for a variety of reasons. Others, such as Arvela Heider, and James
Carline have remained steadfast.
Board members were the same. Some have come and gone for a
variety of reasons. The agency has been fortunate in that some have gone only
to come back. Cheryl Story, Betty Accordino are back. Newcomers have joined
us, Tom Becker, Charles Roberts, Shawn Cunningham, Jessica Anderson, Nan Cobb,
Lenny Liguori.
Others have remained steadfast. Cindy Koener, Bill Young, and Mike Coffman.
Mr. Coffman’s position as President has not always been easy. Yet the agency
has benefited from his loyalty to Housing Options, the agency’s vision and
mission, and his loyalty to staff.
In May of 2006 Housing Options entered another era. Mr. Joe
Woodward, BS, CSAC was named Executive Director. Mr. Woodward came to Housing
Options with a lengthy history in the field of mental health and substance
abuse.
His vision for the agency is that of growth, just as his
predecessors. He is looking at growth and expansion in housing, staff
development, VESID (employment opportunities), and expanding the agency’s
training program.
Mr. Woodward has an easy and positive attitude, as well as a
sense of humor. What Mr. Woodward has brought to the agency is what Housing
Options has always been about - motivation, excitement, growth and
opportunities, which has always been part of the vision and mission statement of
Housing Options.
