Deaf Supportive Living

People Incorporated Deaf Supported Living (DSL) provides supportive 24-hour Customized Living services for adults who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind, who use or want to use sign language as their primary mode of communication and who experience a mental illness. These services are provided in a ten-unit apartment building in NE Minneapolis. Staff help participants learn how to manage their finances, housing, medical care, community resources, transportation and other life skills.

Who we serve
All must be adults (18+) who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind and experience a mental illness. We cannot serve anyone who has tested as being mentally retarded, but will consider people who experience a mental illness and who have borderline intellectual functioning. Individuals who have basic independent living skills or are willing to work with staff to learn these skills are accepted. Supported apartment living must be a reasonable expectation for individuals in this program. They must be waiver eligible, including CADI and TBI waivers. People whose crisis is due primarily to substance abuse are not eligible.

Services we provide

• Program staff meet with participants one or more times a week to work on community living skills in the following areas: Financial management: budgeting, organizing financial paperwork, banking and balancing statements, dealing with creditors, and understanding public assistance
• Housing: acquiring and maintaining housing through lease compliance, paying rent, bills and personal safety training
• Health: appointment scheduling, arranging transportation, accompanying individuals to appointments, medication education and management, education and first aid training.
• Community Support: accessing appropriate community resources, planning and hosting social events
• Employment: coordinating services with vocational providers, and researching/accessing training and employment supports.
• Transportation: teaching transportation options available for non-drivers- bus training
• Independent Living Skills: individual instruction in specific daily skills

About our location
Individuals live in either a single room or efficiency apartment. The program is in a large building co-located with our Deaf Mental Health Services Drop-in Center in Northeast Minneapolis. Those living in single rooms have kitchen and dining facilities shared by five individuals. Efficiency apartments have a kitchen in each unit. Staff have offices in the building.

About the process
The individual, providers, family members can make referrals to the program, or any interested party. The person’s eligibility is determined through a process which includes:

• the completion of the client intake form, psychological evaluation, social/family history and medical examination;
• a visit to the program; and
• an interview with the program director and/or mental health practitioner.

About our fees
Participants live in their own apartments and are responsible for their own food, clothing, and shelter expenses. Tenants pay rent for their unit, currently $300 per month for single rooms and $375 per month for efficiencies. We work with each tenant and their financial worker to ensure that they receive financial assistance based on their eligibility. This includes SSDI, MSA, food stamps and medical assistance. Staffing and other costs are paid for through waivered funding. Payment for the program must be pre-authorized by the county of financial responsibility. The person must be screened for waivered services funding and the determined rate covers base program fees. Additional services needed by the participant need to be added and approved by the county.

About our staff
Our staff are both Deaf and hearing individuals who are fluent in sign language and have education and experience in human services. We prefer individuals with a BA or BS in social work, psychology, vocational rehabilitation or related fields. Staff are trained in CPR, First Aid, OSHA, psychiatric medication, psychiatric rehabilitation, VA, communication skills, and behavior management.

Hours of operation
Services and on-site supervision 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, with awake overnight staff. The staff is available for medical and other emergencies for DSL participants. We use a paging system that allow participants to reach staff from their apartments.

Licensing
Housing with Services, Customized Living Facility

Affiliations
Member of the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs (MACMHP) as well as members of the US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA).