Big Sky Life Support HCBS

Supportive housing for the chronically homeless through Big Sky Life Support HCBS will help consumers obtain housing free from many of the roadblocks currently in place in most property management companies. First, BSLS will not do any background checks in regard to the consumer’s credit report. Consumers on the waiver program go through a thorough background check and in most cases, their history would disqualify them for housing based on the criteria implemented by most property management companies. Consumers in BSLS housing will not be in violation in the event of a mental health emergency, and in most cases, law enforcement will not be called to properly mitigate the situation. In the event law enforcement is called, a SOR report will be filed with the case management team. In the event a consumer has an event that leads them toward being placed in a mental health facility, the consumer will be given adequate time to recover and return to their home. 

The first and most important provision outside of the housing itself, is Life Coaching. Life Coaches work directly with case management to implement the goals established by the consumer and case manager to provide a clear path toward living a healthy successful life. The first goal typically is medical management. Life coaches help consumers make appointments and follow-ups with PCP and specialists in Missoula County to address their multiple morbidities. Life coaches transport consumers to their appointments, help them verbalize to providers the issues the consumer is facing, document the appointment, and fax documentation to the case management team. Life coaches help the consumer fill their medication and convey to the nurse supervisor any changes to their medication list. The second goal is typically home management which encompasses all of their in-home needs from reviewing the mail for any important correspondence, making shopping lists, and paying bills. Life coaches help complete important compliance documentation with the Office of Public Assistance, Missoula Housing Authority, and any agency requiring documentation directly affecting the consumer’s life.  The third goal is social integration. Many consumers on the SDMI waiver experience great social anxiety, and due to cost constraints, are not able to participate in many social activities that most of us take for granted. Life Coaches help consumers attend low-cost/free events in the Missoula area. 

The second service that is greatly beneficial to consumers on the SDMI waiver is Behavioral Intervention Assistant. BIA has a minimum of eight hours of mental health training in addition to direct training in relation to each consumer’s diagnosis in order for each BIA to provide proper support for each individual’s special needs. BIA works directly with the Life Coach and consumer to implement a menu based on the consumer’s personal diet needs. Many of the menus are formulated based on an appointment with a dietician. BIA supports consumers by cleaning their laundry, floors, dishes, bathrooms, and bedrooms, and assisting the consumer with bathing prompts and support. BIA helps consumers shop for healthy options at the store of preference put groceries in their appropriate place, and complete meal prep in order for the client to have healthy meals on hand. BIA also supports consumers with social integration in the community with free events like the farmers market, music in the park, sporting events, and concerts.

Supportive housing provided by generous donations from the community will provide next-level care for those who are on the SDMI waiver. In addition to the above provisions, consumers will be provided on-campus care. BSLS will occupy one of 7 units with staff on-site providing in-home care and laundry services, maintaining all walkways and lawn care, arranging transportation, and attending community events. In the event of any concern, consumers will have access to one-on-one meetings with either a Life Coach or the Program Administrator, who lives on campus, to provide guidance to or support consumers through their situation. All in-home support will be provided by BSLS excluding nursing support such as filling medications and changing bandages, etc. All consumers housed by BSLS will pay 30% of their income regardless of having a housing voucher in place, ensuring that the chronically homeless will have immediate access to housing regardless of their current income circumstances. Housing costs will be all utilities included. Consumers will be provided with radiant floor heating, forced air ventilation, a boiler for on-demand hot water, and basic cable and Wi-Fi through a local internet provider.