Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Supported Independent Living (SIL Scattered and Congregate/HSP/HUD/COMPASS)

COMHAR’s SIL programs are available to individuals with severe mental illness (SMI).

Counselors meet regularly with the members in their housing settings with a focus on recovery.
Individuals receive support with transitioning into supported housing and gaining stability in their lives.
Supports include medication monitoring, goal setting, mental health and substance use resources, and the development of life skills, e.g., leisure planning, budgeting, meal planning, and educational/vocational coordination.

Types of homes: SIL units are both congregate and scattered sites, primarily located in the Kensington and Northeast neighborhoods of Philadelphia with some units in West Philadelphia.

Eligibility: For most programs, members must be 18+ years of age and have a psychiatric disability and have a documented history of homelessness.

Scattered SIL

Supportive services provided for 22 individuals living in individual apartments throughout Philadelphia supported by mobile SIL Counselors. In this context, individuals generally have their own housing voucher through partners like PHA, Columbus Property Management and other independent landlords.

Congregate HUD Housing

Provides support for 18 individuals in a congregate apartment complex in Kensington with on-site staff during the day. Members reside in individual and shared apartment units in congregate setting with a shared common area for social and leisure activities. Case management Support is provided for our members to help them connect to various resources and supports within the community as well as to support members in transitioning into an independent living environment.

Housing Subsidy Program (HSP)

Provides subsidies for 8 individuals living in 2 congregate housing sites, one male and one female home, in Kensington and 12 scattered site apartments.

HUD SHP 2 Program

Provides housing to 42 individuals residing in subsidized apartment units by mobile SIL Counselors. Requires a history of homelessness. Eligibility is determined by assessments completed through the county’s HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) through a process called Coordinated Entry (CEA-BHRS).

COMPASS I & II

Provides apartment subsidies and supports to people who are within the homeless system with co-occurring mental illness and HIV/AIDS diagnosis. COMPASS offers 21 scattered site apartments and 10 congregate units in West Philadelphia. Referrals for the COMPASS Program come directly from the City of Philadelphia’s Coordinated Entry system. The program is not able to take walk in or referrals from individual organizations.

To learn more about the Coordinated Entry system, please visit Philadelphia’s Coordinated Entry and Assessment-Based Housing Referral System using the link below.

Learn More

Referrals come through the TIP (Transformational Integration Partnerships) unit of
the Department of Behavioral Health (215) 569-8414 and Office of Homeless Services.
Referrals originate from case managers, shelter services, and some transitional services.