January 25th is “A Room of One’s Own Day.” While the day is officially attributed to Virginia Woolf and the need for a private place to write, at The Guidance Center of Westchester, we like to think of this as a way to celebrate the important role that having a place to call “home” plays in recovery and wellness.
Jeff, a supported housing client of TGCW, says it best: “For disabled people like me, for whom coping on our own can sometimes be a struggle, having a real address to call home is the first critical step in rebuilding an independent and rewarding life. My recovery period from illness was quickened by having an affordable and well-managed place of my own with a sturdy front door. Not only was I relieved to avoid desperate measures, I created for myself a safe haven in which I could build emotional independence and a sense of personal responsibility. Securing a proper place was the crucial catalyst to helping me once again become a valuable for my family, my employers, and the community.”
Kent Belgrave, MSW, MSEd, director of housing services, explains that by removing the burden and worry about having a place to sleep, clients are able to focus on improving other aspects of their lives. “With Jeff, we were able to find him a nice apartment close to his children. They were able to see that their dad was stable, had a home and a job. It helped rebuild their relationship, and that’s important to all of them.”
TGCW operates 116 supported housing units throughout Westchester County. Counselors work with the clients to ensure that the apartments are well maintained and that the clients are being responsible tenants.
Together we thrive! Visit TheGuidanceCenter.org for more information on how our programs help the community thrive.
Pictured here: One of our beautifully kept supported housing units.
