Jennifer L.

Beaver
Chapter 2
May 13, 2017

Working for Horizon House, Inc. running one of the Behavioral Health Services Mental

Health group homes, has its complexities. My setting is residential, upper class rural area. The

house across the street from our site recently sold for 1.4 million dollars. I serve participants

with a primary mental health diagnosis, but some are dually diagnosed (MH/IDD or MH/D &

A). We serve adults aged eighteen and up who are physically capable. We work with men and

women, regardless of color, sexual orientation or gender preference.

The agency is mostly urban in setting, serving local individuals with mental illness, drug

and alcohol issues, or intellectual disabilities. Horizon House is spread throughout Pennsylvania,

in six counties, as well as all three counties in Delaware State. Some of the other programs serve

transitional age youth and the homeless. Each site receives funding from its County, and

therefore must answer to them. Our funding is complex, as it touches on the County, State, and

National level. The federal government cuts the State budgets, which trickle down to the

Counties, then finally to Horizon House.

Policy work is important to the agency, as housing is a large portion of the work we do.

Housing First is an important program that Horizon House has that follows the philosophy to

house the person first, then provide voluntary supportive services as needed. Homelessness and

housing require a vast amount of advocacy, as the homeless population have few that will stand

for them. We make connections with other programs to gain the services the individual needs.

We partner with Open Hearth, who will pay the first month or security deposit for the individual.
The agency has associations with the local food banks and clothes closets to assist with these

basic needs.

Politically, Horizon House much like other Human Services agencies is affected by

political issues. With our current President, House, and Senate, the country is uncertain. The

threats of eliminating Medicaid, food stamps, as well as cutting Human Services budgets even

more loom over not only our agency, but all Human Services. The closing of the State Hospitals,

the lack of affordable care, and access to services has created a sense of fear. Group homes have

closed over the years, including the only other one in Chester County, PA. Lack of funding has

caused employee raises to become an uncertain event. Some years we get them, but some years

the funding is just not there for the raises.

The socio-cultural context is just as complex as we now have transgender participants,

Hispanic non-English speaking participants, gay / lesbian participants, and Deaf participants.

Horizon House has needed to hire bilingual staff, increase sensitivity training by including a

LBGTQI training, and add ASL classes for staff. The agency is an inclusive place, where all are

welcome and accommodations made when possible.