PATH's Missions & Goals

People Advocating Therapeutic Homes (PATH) is a Connecticut nonstock, nonprofit corporation recognized as a tax-exempt, public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Need: Substance abuse continues to pose difficult and complex issues for society. In addition to the tragic toll on the individual, countless families are affected every year. Businesses incur added expense from accidents, lost productivity and increased health coverage costs. Federal, state, and local government and medical insurers must expend substantial resources on treatment. And, the criminal justice system can't keep pace with the problems caused by substance abuse.

The need for a solution is pressing. Yet, substance abuse remains largely untractable. Legal crackdowns have failed. Relapse from medical treatment is high. However, there are some positive developments. One approach has been shown to increase the likelihood for a successful, sustainable recovery. This approach pairs the provision of medical treatment with a strong support structure to the person in recovery. Unfortunately, the development of this strong support structure is often impeded by the lack of affordable housing that meets the individual's therapeutic needs. Currently, there is a severe shortage of housing of this type in Connecticut and nationwide.

PATH's Mission is to: address the shortage of such housing by promoting the creation and ongoing operation of affordable, self-supporting therapeutic homes for persons in recovery. These homes will provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment for up to one year for residents who have already received appropriate medical intervention. As a condition of occupancy, each resident must agree to follow the home's therapeutic rules, as well as meet financial obligations.

Programs Goals are to:

1. Develop an entrepreneurial business model that addresses the requirements for success in operating therapeutic housing.

• Physical requirements such as size of home, number of units, community amenities;
• Compliance with local and state building codes for occupancy;
• Financial requirements such as start-up costs and costs of operation including expenses for capital, loan repayment, ongoing maintenance, insurance and taxes;
• Therapeutic program requirements such as required support structure and house rules; and
• Marketing requirements such as location and important contacts.

2. Develop a panel of medical and social service experts to provide ongoing guidance on therapeutic requirements for housing.

3. Offer training in the business practices needed to successfully develop and operate a PATH home, through cooperation with other state organizations such as CERC, the CT SBDC, the UConn School of Business or other educational organizations.

4. Introduce PATH and the model to the recovering community and to other individuals interested in developing and operating therapeutic homes.

5. Maintain a web site in cooperation with students at the UConn School of Law that inventories therapeutic housing in the state. The site is not intended to make a judgment or warrant the housing listed, but to provide up-to-date information on therapeutic housing by location and requirements, so that persons requiring therapeutic housing may more easily find affordable housing that meets their needs.

6. Sponsor conferences and public forums to raise public awareness of the value of therapeutic housing.

7. Work in cooperation iwth the UConn School of Law and with other law schools and legal aid services in Connecticut to provide legal assistance in addressing barriers to PATH, such as zoning restrictions. Activities may include consultation to government officials and the development and maintenance of a clearing house where interested parties can obtain up-to-date legal and social services information on matters relevant to therapeutic housing.

8. Working in cooperation with UConn School of Medicine and UConn School of Social Work, and with other educational institutions, as appropriate, to address other social and medical barriers to the creation of therapeutic housing.

9. Coordinate knowledge of available sources of capital.

10. Introduce the model to the financial community to increase lender interest in investment in PATH homes.

11. Manage state contracts designed to increase the supply of PATH-type housing, as appropriate.

It is hoped that success in Connecticut can be subsequently modeled in other states to help address the severe shortage of therapeutic homes.