While Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network) is not in the housing business—nor is it a direction we are headed—we know we can’t treat people without the stability of safe, clean housing and without meeting our clients’ other basic needs, such as food, medical care, and other social services. We have several types of supported housing arrangements, ranging from help with housing to a short-term emergency acute treatment:
Housing Support - case management and housing resource assistance
Transitional Housing - temporary housing for those with serious mental illness
Santa Fe House - intermediate residential setting with a higher level of mental health support
Acute Treatment Unit - Bridge House - crisis and emergency short-term residential care as well as a psychiatric hospital alternative or "step down"
Housing Support
Our housing specialists assist individuals with many housing issues, including shelters, home-buyer and foreclosure assistance programs, tenant's rights and fair housing questions. Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network administers Section 8 housing vouchers, through which clients with mental illness are able to rent homes and, in some cases, purchase a home. Through the Shelter Plus Care Program, rent-subsidized apartments are available to homeless, low-income individuals who are receiving mental health services through our network.
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Transitional Housing
We have several transitional arrangements to help individuals transition to independent living.
Elati House & Hickory House
Elati House for women and Hickory House for men is home to 12 individuals in transition to permanent housing. Individuals may live in the group home for up to a year while receiving case management services and treatment to prepare them for living on their own.
Recent upgrades to double the number of adults in these units from 6 individuals to 12 were made possible by a $198,920 grant from the Arapahoe County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program with funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Additional support came from the Arapahoe County Weatherization Division.
Aspen Leaf Apartments
Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network acquired and completely renovated an apartment building in Aurora. Aspen Leaf now provides 11 safe, clean affordable apartments for clients, particularly those in the Mental Health Court program.
This project was made possible through HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds provided by the Colorado Division of Housing; Arapahoe County Housing and Community Development Services; and City of Aurora Community Development Division.
Fox Street Apartments
Through a second NSP funding, Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network acquired two adjacent apartment buildings on Fox Street in Littleton. These blighted buildings will be completely renovated in 2011 to help revitalize the neighborhood while providing affordable housing according to NSP guidelines.
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Santa Fe House
As an intermediate care facilty, we provide individuals with supportive living arrangements while they learn the everyday skills needed to live on their own. Our 16-bed unit provides therapeutic structure and monitoring for adults with severe and persistent mental illness so they can learn to live safely and productively. The goal is to support residents as they rebuild their lives, with a special emphasis on relapse prevention.
During a stay, which is typically three months, an individual will learn about his or her illness and how to manage their symptoms. Each person is evaluated weekly by a registered nurse, and sees a psychiatrist once a month, or more frequently as needed. Individuals receive medication and meet daily for group therapy and weekly for individual, family and couples therapy.
Skills for life
At the same time, residents develop important new daily living skills in such areas as budgeting, social interactions, communication, and cooking. If they wish, they can learn to prepare their own meals in our practice kitchen. As consumers prepare to leave Santa Fe House, they receive assistance in locating suitable housing arrangements. Our case managers work closely with consumers as they re-enter all facets of community living, making sure they are connected to the resources that will support them in becoming increasingly self-sufficient.
Sometimes, Moses, an Animal-Assisted Therapy dog, visits. Read the story about his December, 2010 visit.
For more information on Santa Fe House, contact 303 730 8858.
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Bridge House Acute Treatment Unit
Bridge House provides crisis and emergency short-term residential care. In addition to offering another option to a psychiatric hospital stay, the 11,000 square foot, 16-bed Bridge House also serves as a hospital step-down for patients transferring from inpatient facilities. The facility provides mental health holds and short-term observation.
As the only licensed acute treatment unit in the Denver metro area, Bridge House provides a soothing therapeutic setting and our highest degree of structure and staff supervision. The goal of treatment is to help residents become stable, improve their functioning, and better manage their illnesses before transitioning back into the community.
Around-the-clock nursing coverage, medication management, daily visits with a psychiatrist or a prescribing nurse, and a dedicated weekend social worker are available. In fact, Bridge House offers one of the strongest weekend programs in the state – providing admissions, treatment services and discharges seven days a week, including coverage after hours.
Most individuals spend an average of seven days at Bridge House and – as in our other Araphaoe Douglas Mental Health Network programs – consumers, family and friends are encouraged to play an active role in the recovery process. Learn more about Bridge House Acute Treatment Unit.
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