Peer Health Navigator, CRC

Founded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT).

Program/Department Description

• The Residential Crisis Support program, or “The Respite,” is a residential mental health crisis, alternative-to-hospitalization program offering short-term Peer-led care in a friendly and supportive home-like environment.
• Guests are provided with the opportunity to learn and practice recovery and relapse prevention skills to support their current mental health crisis and to provide more effective tools to cope with future crises and avoid hospital-based care.
• Recovery-oriented services are provided 24-hours a day and include peer support, self-advocacy education and self-help training while supporting guests to maintain their established daily activities such as visiting with friends, attending a doctor or other appointments or going to work or school.
• Guests are encouraged to participate in the operations of the residence, including working together to prepare communal meals.
• The maximum length of stay is 28 days.

• Community Access’s OMH licensed Intensive Crisis Residence (ICR) is inspired by the Soteria model and is designed as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for people going through an acute psychiatric crisis and who would benefit from a respite period in a stabilizing, home-like environment with 24-hour peer support and treatment services.
• The Soteria ICR will work with guests for up to 28 days to help them develop awareness and skills that will allow them to return to the community with an increased ability to manage their mental health concerns.
• The ICR will follow a Soteria model which emphasizes shared running of a home-like environment, positive expectations of recovery, validation of subjective experiences, the concept of “being with” a person, providing 1:1 support, 24 hours a day, and self-determination.
• Services are completely voluntary, and guests are encouraged to maintain their daily responsibilities and activities in the community during their stay including work, school, family care, recreation, and wellness appointments.