Low Threshold Services: The Urban Pathways Safe Havens
An Urban Pathways safe haven is a temporary housing facility for homeless individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious
and persistent mental illness and have not successfully engaged in conventional housing or outpatient treatment.
Clients that come to an Urban Pathways safe haven have chosen to live on the street rather than in an assessment shelter.
They are referred by the Manhattan Outreach Consortium , PATH Outreach,
Fashion BID Outeach and Flat Iron BID Outreach programs and have typically spent at least 5-10 years living on the streets.
The primary goal of this temporary housing model is to promote wellness and stability by providing rehabilitative services in a
low-demand environment. Services include: access to entitlements and benefits; medical and psychiatric services;
referrals to addiction outpatient treatment programs; monitoring of medications; life skills training; individual and group
supportive counseling; and housing placement services. Residents are permitted to remain as long as needed to acquire
the skills necessary for independent living. The typical length of stay is six months to one year.
