Finding Shelter
Finding Shelter Through Peer Support
What on earth is the ‘Western Mass RLC’? The Western Mass RLC supports healing and empowerment for our broader communities and people who have been impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, extreme states, homelessness, addiction, and other life-interrupting challenges through:
• Peer-to-peer support & genuine human relationships • Alternative Healing Practices • Learning Opportunities • Advocacy Essential to our work is recognizing and undoing systemic injustices such as racism, sexism, transphobia and psychiatric oppression.
Challenging Common Beliefs… • If someone wants to find a shelter bed, one is usually available if they know where to look (Myth!)
• Shelters typically provide humane options for getting off the street (Myth!) • Homeless shelters don’t discriminate based on psychiatric history (Myth!)
• Homelessness is usually due to psychiatric diagnosis or problems with substance use (Myth!)
Some of the reasons people end up homeless: • Lack of affordable housing • Racist and other discriminatory housing practices • Loss of job • Serious health issues/costs • Natural disasters • Kicked out of family home for being queer, trans*, etc. • Fleeing child abuse • Fleeing an abusive partner
Some of the Barriers to Finding Housing: • Lack of affordable housing • Racist and other discriminatory rental and waitlisting practices • Discriminatory landlord practices related to housing subsidies • Required documentation that one might not have or be able to afford (birth certificate, ID, etc.) • Cumbersome application process • Past evictions (e.g., evictions from federal housing, etc.) • Criminal records (including acts related to homelessness that were criminalized) • Difficulty being reached (for waitlists, etc.) due to no permanent address • Lack of family housing or housing that allows pets • Language and literacy barriers
The Birth of the Rainville… • Visioned through a collaboration between HAP, HUD, and local religious and social justice leaders in early 1990s • Created specifically for people who have been homeless • Offers 46 efficiency units • Rent as low as $50 per month for individuals who have no income • Rented first units in 1996 • Oversight provided by a Board made up of tenants and local social justice leaders • Introduced peer support in 2015 through the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community
Peer Support Meets Housing & Homelesness • • • • • • • • •
One-on-one peer support Support group facilitation Tenant mediation Coordination of community events designed to bring tenants together Assistance filling out forms for health insurance and other relevant services Assistance in developing payment plans and navigating housing court Education about housing and tenancy rights and regulations Advocacy and negotiation between residents and property managers Information about and assistance with current housing options and application procedures • Connections to community resources • And more!
Peer Support + Housing & Homelessness = • • • • • • •
Dramatically reduced eviction rates Increased health insurance enrollment Increased access to and effective use of health services Increased sense of community among tenants Reduced conflict between tenants Increased connection to community resources Increased awareness of and successful application to housing options for individuals who are living without a home • Improved quality of life • And more!
What on earth is the ‘Western Mass RLC’? The Western Mass RLC supports healing and empowerment for our broader communities and people who have been impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, extreme states, homelessness, addiction, and other life-interrupting challenges through:
• Peer-to-peer support & genuine human relationships • Alternative Healing Practices • Learning Opportunities • Advocacy Essential to our work is recognizing and undoing systemic injustices such as racism, sexism, transphobia and psychiatric oppression.
Challenging Common Beliefs… • If someone wants to find a shelter bed, one is usually available if they know where to look (Myth!)
• Shelters typically provide humane options for getting off the street (Myth!) • Homeless shelters don’t discriminate based on psychiatric history (Myth!)
• Homelessness is usually due to psychiatric diagnosis or problems with substance use (Myth!)
Some of the reasons people end up homeless: • Lack of affordable housing • Racist and other discriminatory housing practices • Loss of job • Serious health issues/costs • Natural disasters • Kicked out of family home for being queer, trans*, etc. • Fleeing child abuse • Fleeing an abusive partner
Some of the Barriers to Finding Housing: • Lack of affordable housing • Racist and other discriminatory rental and waitlisting practices • Discriminatory landlord practices related to housing subsidies • Required documentation that one might not have or be able to afford (birth certificate, ID, etc.) • Cumbersome application process • Past evictions (e.g., evictions from federal housing, etc.) • Criminal records (including acts related to homelessness that were criminalized) • Difficulty being reached (for waitlists, etc.) due to no permanent address • Lack of family housing or housing that allows pets • Language and literacy barriers
The Birth of the Rainville… • Visioned through a collaboration between HAP, HUD, and local religious and social justice leaders in early 1990s • Created specifically for people who have been homeless • Offers 46 efficiency units • Rent as low as $50 per month for individuals who have no income • Rented first units in 1996 • Oversight provided by a Board made up of tenants and local social justice leaders • Introduced peer support in 2015 through the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community
Peer Support Meets Housing & Homelesness • • • • • • • • •
One-on-one peer support Support group facilitation Tenant mediation Coordination of community events designed to bring tenants together Assistance filling out forms for health insurance and other relevant services Assistance in developing payment plans and navigating housing court Education about housing and tenancy rights and regulations Advocacy and negotiation between residents and property managers Information about and assistance with current housing options and application procedures • Connections to community resources • And more!
Peer Support + Housing & Homelessness = • • • • • • •
Dramatically reduced eviction rates Increased health insurance enrollment Increased access to and effective use of health services Increased sense of community among tenants Reduced conflict between tenants Increased connection to community resources Increased awareness of and successful application to housing options for individuals who are living without a home • Improved quality of life • And more!
