A Safe Haven is a form of supportive housing that serves individuals with mental illness, often the most visible yet hardest to reach homeless population. The usual outreach and emergency shelter programs that serve the general homeless population cannot address the unique needs of this group; therefore, Safe Havens were authorized by Congress to provide a housing environment that will allow residents a safe transition from unstable street life to permanent housing. Safe Havens close the gap in housing and services available for those homeless individuals who, perhaps because of their illness, have refused help or have been denied or removed from other homeless programs.
For many persons with mental illnesses who have been living on the streets, the transition to permanent housing is best made in stages, starting with a small, highly supportive environment where an individual can feel at ease, out of danger, and subject to no immediate service demands. Safe Havens can serve as an entry point to the service system and provide access to basic services such as food, clothing, bathing facilities, telephones, storage space and a mailing address. Safe Havens do not require participation in services and referrals as a condition of occupancy. Rather, it is hoped that after a period of stabilization in a Safe Haven, residents will be more willing to participate in services and referrals, and will eventually be ready to move to more traditional forms of housing.
Of the nation's homeless population, approximately 40 percent have indicators of mental health problems. Escaping homelessness for the person with a severe mental illness is much more difficult because the symptoms may disrupt the very judgment, motivation, and social skills that are essential for community living.
SAFE HAVEN DESIGN:
Because a Safe Haven is a form of supportive housing it must comply with all of the SHP requirements. In addition, specific requirements of a Safe Haven are:
- Serves hard-to-reach homeless person with severe mental illnesses who are on the streets and have been unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services;
- Allows 24-hour residence for an unspecified duration;
- Has private or semi-private accommodations;
- Limits overnight occupancy to no more that 25 persons;
- May include a drop-in center as part of outreach activities; and
- May also provide supportive services on a drop-in basis to eligible persons who are not residents.
Reprinted, in part, from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development website: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/library/shp/understandingshp/components.cfm. For more information on Safe Haven development, contact your CPD representative at the HUD office.
Safe Havens can accommodate homeless mentally ill persons coming from shelters or emergency rooms (when hospitalization is not required) as well as those coming directly from the street. They offer a relatively stable and secure environment for people not yet willing to participate in more mainstream housing options - both temporary and permanent - for homeless individuals (Quote from Outcasts on Main Street, report of the Federal Task Force on Homelessness and Mental Illness of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, 1992).
