Gateway Community Industries provides a Housing program to assist our consumers in successfully integrating into independent community living.
Making a House a Home
(Part 1 in a series)
There are many days in the residential department that we look around the work environment and wonder just what it is that we do. Staff are available for each resident 365 days a year, 24 hrs. a day. They assist with cooking, cleaning, case-management and daily life skills. We are mentors to the residents in our programs and serve as a role model to each of them. But - underneath all of the daily tasks - it all comes down to "Making a house a home". We are not just four walls, a door and a bed to sleep in. We are not just a shelter from the rain. We are not a drop in center for emergency support. WE ARE A HOME. That said, we've recently taken on the task of refurbishment in many of our homes. As many of you would do, we took a look at the environment and decided that it was necessary take some drastic steps to achieve our goal. The house did not feel like a home. There were a lot of people living in one space, they all shared tasks in the home and yet it did not have that comfortable, secure, safe feeling that imparts the therapeutic growth we strive for at Gateway. We were looking at our Gateway Manor community residence in New Paltz. It's an older farmhouse that as the years have passed, has grown in great need of some love and care. Despite a hurculean effort by our maintenance crew and some very talented residential staff, the physical plant and decorations provided were still missing that little something. Enter - the Office of Mental Health in a new era! Recently, we engaged in a massive discussion to review Gateway Manor. We were fortunate to have local support and state support. Efforts were approved to establish a feasibility study, engage an architect, and begin the process of building a new home on the property that we currently own. In addition, despite many previous attempts to downsize have not been realized. However, at this time, we have been give approval to reduce the capacity at Gateway Manor, (from 18 to 14). It should be noted, that both the plan to reduce capacity, and the design work currently occurring are positive philosophical directions supported by Gateway Community Industries and the Office of Mental Health. So, as we move through 2004 and into 2005 - we will be looking to redesign the Gateway Manor community residence. We will be building a home from the ground up, establishing room to grow, a physical environment that is inviting and a secure place in which 14 residents can work on their life goals. We look forward to working on this project and will keep you posted on our progress.