Congregate Housing Program

CONGREGATE HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM

In contrast to an assisted living program, the Congregate Housing Services Program is a non-medical program designed to provide supportive services to seniors which may allow them to “Age In Place”. The CHSP is described as a social model - - with the “congregate”, or group meal, being the essential program component. The second program component is “personal services”, which typically are housekeeping services or more personal services, such as bathing or shopping services.

The Congregate Housing Services Program is presently operating in 50 buildings in New Jersey; and approximately 1,850 persons are presently being served. The typical site has 37 people being served. The Summit Housing Authorities 12 Chestnut Avenue program serves an average of 24 to 30 frail and elderly residents.

The CHSP requires that a program Coordinator be employed - - the state funds a portion of this salary along with a portion of the fringe benefits to which the employee is entitles. The state also funds a portion of a site’s administrative and program expense. The rest of program is funded from user fees - - or any other funds that the Housing Agency can commit to the program.

This program is strictly voluntary, i.e., tenants must decide that they want or need these services and - - most importantly - - they are required to pay for these services on a sliding scale basis. The cost varies from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 100%, depending upon the “Disposable Income”, i.e., Adjusted Monthly Income less their Monthly Rent.

Persons with monthly disposable Incomes of less than $242/mo would pay 5% of the cost of a congregate meal or personal service hourly rate; persons with a monthly “Disposable Income” of over $899/mo would pay 100% of the meal or personal service cost

Because low-income residents will be paying all or part of the cost of these services, it is crucial that costs be kept as affordable as possible. This cost-sharing keeps residents from over using these services and targets these services to residents who truly need help with housekeeping, bathing and meals. It also implies that the housing agency will have to market the program to appropriate residents in order to make the program financially and programmatically successful.