Supportive Housing is designed to combat homelessness by providing permanent, service-supported, affordable housing for individuals who are homeless and have a disability of mental health or substance use.  It includes a rental subsidy along with support services. The support services enable people with disabilities to live independent, productive, dignified lives in their own homes.  Residents hold leases, pay subsidized rent and are expected to fulfill the responsibilities of tenancy.  It is not required that tenants receive support services but all efforts are made to outreach and engage tenants in services and to help them to develop a cohesive community with their neighbors.

Supportive Housing employs a Housing First model which means that there are no additional requirements of individuals beyond those of a typical renter to obtain or retain housing such as requiring that they be in treatment.  The premise is that by providing housing we are providing the foundation upon which people can build to pursue their personal goals and lead a productive life. Supportive Housing has proven to reduce higher cost institutional services, such as homeless shelters, inpatient psychiatric and physical hospitalizations, as well as readmission into the criminal justice system.

Program Eligibility

In order to be considered for Supportive Housing, the first step is to call 211. At that time, an appointment will be scheduled with one of our community partner agencies for an assessment to determine eligibility for the various services for the homeless in our area.

Supportive Housing Options

United Services has a variety of Supportive Housing including project based and scattered site.

Brick Row (project based) – Willimantic
Brick Row is a 30 unit apartment complex of which 50%  of the units are designated as supportive housing  for individuals who have been chronically homeless and have a disability of mental health or substance use issues.  The remaining apartments are for low income individuals.  Case Management services are located on-site and available for any tenant who resides at Brick Row.

Cedarwoods (project based) – Willimantic
Cedarwoods is a 60 unit apartment building of which 10 units are designated as supportive housing units for individuals who are homeless and have a disability of mental health or substance use issues.  The remaining apartments are designated for individuals with varying levels of income. United Services maintains an office in the building and provides Case Management services to any tenants who request them.

Next Steps (scattered site) – 21 towns of Northeastern CT
United Services provides Case Management services to 10 formerly homeless individuals through the Next Step Program.  Rental subsidies are provided to these 10 individuals and can be used anywhere in the 21 town area served by United Services

Tenant Based Rental Assistance (scattered site) – 21 towns of Northeastern CT
United Services receives HUD funding through DMHAS to administer 12 scattered site Rental Assistance subsidies which can be used anywhere in the 21 town area served by United Services.

The Mill at Killingly Apartments
United Services provides Case Management within The Mill at Killingly Apartments complex located within the former Powdrell & Alexander Mill. The building is owned by The Women’s Institute and managed by DeMarco.

Program Manager: Ignacio Heredia

Funding for this program is provided in part by the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Funding for this program is provided in part by the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).