In-House Permanent Housing
First Light's Permanent Supportive Housing program serves women who are seriously mentally ill and unlikely to live independently. Occupying the 4th floor of First Light, the permanent housing program consists of 9 individual rooms in a community setting. The kitchen, dining and activity area and the community/TV rooms are shared space. Their bathroom area includes multiple sinks, showers and toilet facilities. First Light organizes weekly activities for the women such as cooking together, movie night, grocery shopping, birthday parties, holiday parties, field trips, arts and crafts, self-esteem building makeover days and other life skills programs. Many of the residents are women who stayed in the basement shelter of First Presbyterian Church. Some "lived" in the basement shelter and on the streets for many years. First Light’s permanent housing program provides a supportive environment where residents have a better quality of life and live at their highest level of self-sufficiency. First Light is their home.
It is not unusual to see the women gathering to go on a group outing with their Social Worker. They might go to lunch, shop at a dollar store, see the ballet or a concert (community agencies are gracious and sometimes offer free tickets for a group of our guests to attend their events.) They receive visitors from time to time or may leave for a weekend visit with a family member. Recently the women spent an entire afternoon learning to play with the Wii gaming equipment brought in by the Director for them to borrow. Chores are posted and the ladies take turns keeping things tidy and clean.
The beauty of this scenario is that the fourth floor guests are living independently but with the constant attention and support that assists in keeping them happy in a stable environment. Supportive care is essential for our guest’s ability to keep their housing.
