Please click link to view video Eye of the Needle video
Chartiers Center’s Vesta Rapid Re-Housing Program works with community partners such as the Light of Life Ministry to connect the homeless with unhealthy substance abuse to permanent housing through outreach and support. This video chronicles the opioid epidemic among the homeless community. With the rise of heroin and fentanyl the opioid epidemic has no boundaries. Referred to as the “modern day plague” it reaches families and neighborhoods throughout Allegheny and Washington County.
Chartiers Center’s Substance Abuse Outpatient Therapy Program is available to help people struggling with addictions. The program is located at 515 Washington Rd., Bridgeville, PA. The Chartiers’ program is open to adolescents and adults age 12 and older who have displayed a need for substance abuse treatment services and require Outpatient Services.
Chartiers Center’s Vesta Rapid Re-Housing Program is focused on helping individuals obtain permanent homes, recover from unhealthy substance use and remain together with their families. By providing a safe, stable place to live with temporary supports, this program helps individuals and families on their path to housing permanence, sobriety and family reunification. (continued below)
Special thanks to: The collaboration of artists and designers for Light of Life Rescue Mission, including Flying Scooter Productions, Uppercut Studios, and many others who produced this short documentary called “Eye of the Needle” that chronicles the opioid addiction epidemic in Pittsburgh, PA.
Vesta Rapid Re-Housing Program
About the Vesta Program: The Vesta program is a SAMHSA funded program for the chronically homeless population. Consumers in this program are closely supported by Chartiers Center’s Service Coordinators, who have a strong knowledge of the homeless provider network in Allegheny County, to assist them in the transition to independent, permanent housing.
The program is based on the “housing first” model. Individuals who are chronically homeless cannot typically secure a job and have their other needs met until they find stable housing. Our goal is to help people obtain housing and support them so they are able to do all the things necessary to become capably independent.
How it Works: Those that are chronically homeless, with assistance from their service coordinators, search for affordable housing within the Fair Market Value price. In the Vesta program, the price is $657 per month for a 1 bedroom apartment.
The majority of our consumers will have no income at the time of searching for an apartment; therefore the Service Coordinators try to help them find an apartment that is under fair market value and/or where utilities are included. Please note, if a participant does have an income, they pay 30% of their annual income which is determined by a HUD formula.
Eligibility: The Vesta Program is open to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk for losing housing due to symptoms related to a substance use/abuse diagnosis. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- Experiencing literal homelessness (i.e. sleeping on the street or in a place not meant for human habitation).
- Have an income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
- Have a history of unhealthy substance use.
Program Requirements: While we are here to support you in housing, it is necessary and important that you find an apartment that fits your needs, within a specific budget, within 30 days of being accepted into this program. You will be supported by a team of service coordinators, peer specialists and a nurse who will help you establish supports in the community that will ease your transition into housing and assist you in achieving your goals.
An Individualized Service Plan (ISP) is a plan outlining steps and activities to reach goals and objectives agreed upon between you and your Service Coordinator. Participation in developing your service plan is required and will help shape your program experiences. Your ISP will be updated every three (3) months, when your stay in the program is reevaluated, to reflect goals and measure progress.
Case management will be a crucial role in progressing towards self-sufficiency. You will have the support of both a Service Coordinator and a Financial Service Coordinator, who you will meet at least once per month, but meetings can be more frequent if you feel it would be helpful. These meetings will be used to assess your progress towards your goals, discuss any concerns about the program or any issues that may arise, and connect you to supportive services.
Goal: Chartiers Center Vesta Program is here to assist you with rent. During your initial intake, your financial fitness will be evaluated. The outcome of this evaluation will determine the amount of assistance you will be eligible to receive from Chartiers Center. The goal is to create a situation in which you are living independently and able to take over full payment of your rent. A step down process in rental assistance may be available up to one year. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and you will be expected to pay the portion of the rent that we do not cover.
