ATARP is a Homeless Support, Housing First Service. Housing First Services are designed to help secure housing for disabled enrolled Clients experiencing homelessness who are often hard to engage in typical service models. Housing First Contractors have access to rental assistance for the enrolled Clients. Services are designed to provide entrance into housing with few preconditions and are intended to be delivered in a flexible manner. Services are person centered and reflect needs that the Client has expressed through engagement and assessment activities.
The core principles of Housing First Services include:
- Safe and affordable housing;
- All individuals can achieve housing stability in permanent housing;
- Supports may look different from individual to individual, based on developmentally appropriate needs and considerations, including those of transition aged youth, elders, and homeless families;
- Everyone is “housing ready”;
- Improved quality of life, health, mental health, and employment can be achieved through housing;
- Everyone has the right to determination, dignity and respect; and
- Housing and services are configured based on individual needs and preferences
The Aggressive Treatment and Relapse Prevention (ATARP) Housing First service model is a supportive housing program for homeless or chronically homeless individuals who have a dual diagnosis of major mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder. ATARP is an intensive clinical outreach service designed to provide these individuals and where applicable their families with housing and support in the community. The Commonwealth payment rate for ATARP does not include funding for rental assistance to pay for housing; however the ATARP Contractor will be reimbursed for such expenses on a cash reimbursement basis up to a maximum obligation amount. The ATARP Contractor will enter into leases with landlords on behalf of enrolled Clients and execute occupancy agreements with enrolled Clients. ATARP also promotes housing retention, assistance in accessing treatment and other supportive resources so that the individual can achieve recovery. Individuals enrolled in ATARP receive lease management and supportive services.