Another Voice: Matt Urban Center looks to build off decade of success.
https://buffalonews.com/ Published: December 7, 2024.
On Dec. 14, the Matt Urban Human Services Center will celebrate a decade of providing permanent supportive housing to the Western New York Community.
Since opening our first program, a 20-unit complex called Hope Gardens, our supportive housing programming has grown tenfold. We now provide supportive services to around 200 households across the region. Along the way, we’ve learned invaluable lessons about the unique challenges facing individuals with serious mental illnesses they strive for stability. Chief among these is a cycle of displacement that too often leaves our most vulnerable neighbors without a safe, lasting place to call “home.”
Without family support, people with serious mental illness frequently find themselves in a cycle of homelessness, shelters, supportive housing, hospitals, and jails. This cycle also strains our community’s emergency services and health care systems and contributes to stigma around homelessness and mental illness. To break the cycle, people need more than housing; they need access to comprehensive and continuous care.
In 2025, Matt Urban will expand the level of care we provide to our permanent supportive housing clients, bridging gaps between housing, clinical support, and social services. Among the steps are:
- Growing our case management team: Consistent support is crucial for client success. We’re implementing policies to make us the employer of choice for the best case managers in Western New York, helping us build a dedicated team. that stays with clients for the long haul.
- Developing a crisis response team: Our new group will engage clients proactively, offering an alternative to emergency interventions. Trained staff will deescalate crises, connect clients to necessary services, and reduce reliance on emergency services.
- Expanding support: Embedding clinical staff in our programs means more clients will have access to a mental health professional, reducing the need for hospitalizations and fostering long-term stability.
- Planning outpatient recovery: Substance use often coexists with mental illness. We are currently exploring ways to offer outpatient recovery options that support clients with co-occurring disorders, helping them remain housed while working on recovery.
This cycle of displacement also requires not only programmatic support but also systemic change. By partnering with health care providers and advocating for integrated services, we are looking to create a model that meets the complete needs of individuals with serious mental illness. Our ultimate goal is to be a stabilizing force in our clients’ lives while influencing broader changes that support mental health, housing, and long-term recovery. We are grateful for the community’s support. Our success depends on your contributions. To learn more about our programs or to donate, please visit urbanctr.org.
Ryan Undercoffer is the executive director of the Matt Urban Human Services Center.
Man from Western New York to spar for 3 hours to raise money for a good cause.
https://www.wgrz.com/ Published: November 22, 2024
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — There will be an event happening in North Tonawanda on Strad Avenue at Integrity Martial Arts to benefit the Matt Urban Human Services Center. It’s called On the Mat for Matt Urban.
The executive director of the Matt Urban Human Services Center, Ryan Undercoffer, will try to spar from 10 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon.
