Tarry House Respite Referral Form
The Tarry House Respite Program has been in operation since 1992. It was designed to provide a transitional service providing living quarters and support to people who are mentally ill and homeless, at risk for homelessness, or who are experiencing a crisis situation which places them at risk of hospitalization. The program provides a valuable service to the ADM System by providing people who are ready for discharge from expensive in-patient settings with a short-term living arrangement until permanent housing can be secured. In addition, the Respite program provides Summit County families “respite,” freeing family members or significant others to attend to other business. Priorities for placement in this program are given to those who are homeless or recently discharged from the hospital, then beds are offered on a “first come, first serve” basis.
However, due to the increasing demands of those served related to chronic homelessness with concurrent addictions and poor engagement in mental health services, Tarry House proposes adding a half-time (20 hours per week) Homeless Specialist position to assist individuals served to navigate post discharge and/or transitional planning. Also, this position would help improve the recidivism of admissions. Statistically, there has been an increase in recurring admissions due to lack of affordable, appropriate, and available housing.
This Homeless Specialist will be in charge of admissions and discharges with the goal of more people served leaving Respite with a better plan for permanent housing. This includes a housing assessment and breaking down barriers to housing opportunities and other resources. This will be documented, and outcomes tracked by an individualized housing service plan. This plan will be completed for all individuals served and within three business days of admission.
In addition, for the past 30 years, Tarry House Respite has had a maximum length of stay of 13 calendar days. Tarry House will continue to admit people with the understanding that one half of the people served will still stay for 13 days but proposed is to allow, with authorization from the ADM Board, clients to stay for an extended period based on the person’s housing plan. In addition, for those of whom it applies, if a person’s 13-day stay ends on a Saturday or Sunday, the person may stay until the upcoming Monday to not have people discharged from the program on the weekends.
The Homeless Specialist will complete the outcome information to be determined by Tarry House and ADM and will also complete the Homeless Management Information System (HUD’s HMIS) for all clients served.
A core belief of Tarry House is that mental health recovery services, provided through collaboration and partnerships within Summit County, enable all persons served to receive care within the least restrictive setting. In providing 24 hour supervised residential recovery and transitional services to persons suffering from severe and persistent mental illnesses, Tarry House has a very important responsibility within the ADM System.
Tarry House is dedicated to eliminating barriers based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability and sexual orientation. Staff and volunteers have created and continue to maintain an atmosphere where persons served are treated with dignity and respect while receiving quality mental health recovery services.
Mission Statement
Tarry House, Inc. will provide quality client-driven, family-supported and evidenced based residential recovery services to assist persons with severe mental illness and/or addictions to maximize independence.