Our Winter 2016 newsletter is online

The Winter 2016 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online. Read about our newest supportive housing building, client success stories, grant renewals, and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. Click here to read it (pdf). If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

Our Summer 2015 newsletter is now available!

The Summer 2015 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online. Read about our renovated medical clinic, latest art show, new services and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. Click here to read it (pdf). If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

And don't forget to join us on September 19th for our 10th Annual Run for Your Life celebration!

"Housing & recovery are joined at the hip"

In today's edition of The New York Times, Odyssey House President Dr. Peter Provet comments on a recent article examining New York City's response to an earlier investigative report (A Choice for Recovering Addicts: Relapse or Homelessness, May 30, 2015) on the deplorable conditions of three-quarter homes. 

 

Housing for Addicts

To the Editor:

Your investigative report on "three-quarter" homes (front page, Aug. 3) exposes flaws in a system that places vulnerable people with substance abuse and/or mental disorders in living situations with providers who at best do nothing to support their recovery, and at worst propel them toward drug use and chaos through crowded, substandard living conditions.

It is troubling to all of us who provide treatment services that people who leave our programs with the tools to live sober and independent lives are just one bad placement away from falling back into addiction. But the fact is that housing and recovery are joined at the hip.

Within long-term recovery, however, stable housing is necessary but not sufficient. Quality outpatient and recovery services are essential to maintaining successes achieved in what can otherwise devolve into a chronic relapsing disorder. That some corrupt providers may exist should not obscure the fact that hundreds of others offer critical community-based services that allow thousands in recovery to flourish.

PETER PROVET

President and Chief Executive

Odyssey House

New York, April 3, 2014

Last year, Odyssey House opened Soundview Avenue, a NewYork State Office of Mental Health-funded supportive housing building that provides permanent housing in the Bronx for 56 single, low income adults living with special needs. To mark our one-year anniversary of providing services, we held a breakfast for our tenants, neighbors, and community partners.

We had a great turnout from the community, including representatives from the 43^rd Precinct Community Council, the Soundview Residence Council, Urban Health Plan, and Leake & Watts. Dr. Sidney Hargrave, vice chair of the Bronx Community Board #9, said, “Odyssey House has been a partner with Community Board 9 for years. Thank you for being a beacon in this community. This is one of the best residences in our district.”

 Ruth S., a tenant who moved into Soundview Avenue in January 2014, addressed the crowd to talk about her experiences in the shelter system and how her life has turned around since moving in: “I felt insecure, hopeless and sad all the time – I isolated myself and my mental illness worsened. It’s comforting to have my independence back and stability in my life. Odyssey House has made me feel better; for the past year, I have felt safe.”

Supportive housing building receives LEED Silver certification

Last year, Odyssey House opened Soundview Avenue, a New York State Office of Mental Health-funded building that provides permanent housing in the Bronx for 56 single, low income adults living with special needs. Designed to be our first eco-friendly building, Soundview Avenue incorporates environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient design, construction, operation, and maintenance practices. We are pleased to announce that Soundview Avenue, a LEED-certified project, has now achieved Silver level certification, a first for a NYS Office of Mental Health-funded supportive housing program.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program by the US Green Building Council that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Key green design features that contributed to our Silver certification include drought-resistant landscaping; water-saving fixtures; daylight and occupancy sensors; low-VOC paints and materials; Energy Star appliances; and bike storage.

The Summer 2014 newsletter is now online

The Summer 2014 edition of Odyssey House News is now available! Read about our supportive housing openings, the latest art show, new grants, and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook wall. If you'd like to receive a copy in the mail, please email your contact information to info(at)odysseyhouseinc.org.

Treatment and housing

As treatment programs evolve to support individuals within their communities, Odyssey House is developing housing and outpatient services that complement and extend the efficacy of residential treatment. In the Summer 2014 issue of Behavioral Health News, Odyssey House President & CEO Peter Provet, Ph.D. and Janice Slaughter, Director of Mental Health & Housing Services, explain how we're planning for the future. Click here to download the article (pdf).

Odyssey House opens second supportive housing program in the Bronx

More than 100 community leaders, government partners, Odyssey House board members, staff and supporters gathered in the Bronx on April 24th for the Tinton Avenue ribbon cutting ceremony. Tinton Avenue is our second supportive housing program to open in this month.

The event featured tenant-led tours of the buildings and speeches by Moira Tashjian of the NYS Office of Mental Health and Cynthia Stuart of the SupportiveHousing Network of New York. In addition, Adrienne F., a tenant, spoke of her experience being homeless and how having a home has improved her life:  “When you’re in a shelter, you’re not living – you’re merely existing. Now I have a chance at being more self-sufficient and reaching my goals. I can also think more clearly and take better care of myself.”

Photo caption: The architects, contractors, consultants, funders, and Odyssey House management team responsible for the Tinton Avenue development celebrate the official opening. From left, Nick Lettire, Lettire Construction; Joe Olive, Jr., Olive Branch Consulting; Caren Abate and James Lupoli, NYS Office of Mental Health; Tina Mitchell, Odyssey House project manager; Moira Tashjian and Budd Isaacson, NYS Office of Mental Health; Peter Provet, Ph.D., Odyssey House president and chief executive officer; Durga Vallabhaneni, Odyssey House chief financial and administrative officer; Kevin Hoffman, The Richman Group; Amy Larovere and Thomas Wong, A. Larovere Consulting; Akiko Kyei-Aboagye and David Hirsch, Urban Architectural Initiatives.

Celebrating women of strength

Friendships between women are special. In their friendships, women tend to share feelings and problems more than men do with friends; and in times of stress or anxiety, women are more likely to turn to their friends and confidantes for emotional relief.

Many people struggling with substance use disorders, mental illness, or homeless find themselves isolated, and studies show that losing connections with others is a particularly devastating aspect of addiction for women.

That’s why every March, in honor of Women’s HistoryMonth, we host a special Women’s Day event. It’s often the first time the women across our housing programs have a chance to interact. “It’s about introducing the residents to each other, to encourage them to socialize and form a support network,” said Victor Genao, program director of Park Avenue.

This year's theme was “Strong Women Rise,” reflected on a mural painted by several of the women. The celebration was organized by Harriet Turner, who said, 'I believe 'strong women do rise' above all adversities and being a part of the women’s month event at Odyssey House gives me an opportunity to bring together the women we serve and provide a forum of hope and inspiration while sharing stories of encouragement through their own achievements and the stories of others."

The program included a performance by gospel singer Arlethia, poetry readings, and a ceremony honoring a woman from each program. Many of the speakers took the opportunity to share words of inspiration with their fellow tenants and colleagues:

“Everyone sitting at this table, know that you are an inspiration to someone – you are someone’s mother, sister, aunt, niece, daughter. More importantly, you are somebody.”

“You have a purpose in life – be a positive role model, not just at Odyssey House but in the world.”

They even learned how to pamper themselves a little bit. Kelly Ahearn, wellness coordinator, showed the women how to make a simple facial mask at home.