Living In shelter
If you are currently living in emergency shelter, there are resources available that can help you exit homelessness. These can include services to help you increase your income, help paying your bills, or entering a housing program.
Please note that housing programs have limited capacity and are often only accessible if you have been homeless for more than a year.
Housing Stability Plan
Rapid Rehousing
Rapid rehousing programs exit about 200 families in shelter, each year, by offering short-term rental assistance, housing search, and case management.
Households do not apply for this program. Families in shelter for more than one year are automatically added to a waitlist and then contacted by a rapid rehousing program when they are next on the list.
This program model is designed for people that are homeless, have a documented permanent disability, and require ongoing support and case management in order to retain housing. Affordable, permanent and independent housing meets the needs of tenants by providing support and that is integrated within a neighborhood and community.
Housing opportunities for this program are limited with turn over rates being very low and are dedicated locally to households homeless for more than one year with significant barriers to exiting homelessness on their own and the need for ongoing support .
Permanent Supportive Housing
Single Adults
The most common barriers for single adults exiting homeless are due to challenges maintaining stability. Permanent Supportive Housing can be a good fit, when available.
The majority of permanent supportive housing for single adults on Long Island can only be accessed by first applying and being approved through SPA (Single Point of Access).
Requirements for housing through SPA:
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Recent Psychological Evaluation demonstrating a severe and persistent mental illness
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Recent Psychosocial evaluation
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Physical and PPD
Housing programs & Support for single Adults
If you have a chronic health condition, learn more about Care Coordination for help with medical case management and SPA applications.
Substance Use Treatment
& Sober Homes
Veterans
Concern For Independent Living (veteran)
United Veterans Beacon House (veterans)
Disability & Seniors
Catholic Charities
FREE
Housing for Persons with Disabilities (community list)
LGBT Network
Selfhelp
SILO
HIV / HOPWA
Youth
Re-Entry
The most common barriers for families exiting homelessness are economic and/or from discrimination and oppression. They are best served by housing subsidies, either short-term through Rapid Rehousing programs or housing vouchers. There is a limited stock of Permanent Supportive Housing available for families and they are less likely to qualify.
Families With Children
Housing programs & Support for Families
These programs can with housing options or other supports for low income parents and their children.
Programs can provide early learning services, health services, and support with family well-being such as support achieving housing and financial stability.
Family Service League provides a variety of programs to support homeless families.
Mercy Haven has permanent supportive housing and SPA housing for individuals and families.
WHPDC has a supportive housing program that places families in single family houses and provides intensive case management.
CHI runs permanent supportive housing programs in Long Island and Westchester, NY.
CDCLI administers the Housing Choice Voucher program in Suffolk County. Their website has information on housing lotteries and affordable rental units.