Synod is a pioneer in the application of the “harm reduction model” to services addressing a wide range of housing related needs. At its core, harm reduction is a hands-on pragmatic approach teaching staff to accept and work with clients as they are, at their own pace, to create safe and healthy housing and reduce the adverse consequences of unhealthy, disruptive or risky behavior.

All services are designed to enhance quality of life, increase the range of personal choice, strengthen ties to the community and assist clients as needed in meeting the demands of daily life. Our staff are trained and our service delivery system designed to respect and promote the privacy, dignity and autonomy of all our consumers.

One of our most important goals is to promote independent living so people in need can stay at home rather than face nursing home placement, eviction or recurring instability.

A Range of Supports to Meet Your Needs

Whether you need: In Home Support, Health and Safety Services, Money Management, Mental Health Support or Housing and Disability Services, Synod staff can help. When you contact us we will review the menu of specific service options, schedule a needs assessment and devise a program tailored to your individual needs.

In Home Support

• Hands-On Personal Care – Assistance with bathing, hair and grooming to ensure high standards of health, appearance and hygiene.
• Household Support – Help with all tasks necessary to ensure a safe, clean home: cleaning/housekeeping, laundry, organizing, and hoarding reduction
• Food and Nutrition - Assistance maintaining a healthy diet through meal preparation and cooking, meal planning, and grocery shopping
• Enrichment – Assistance accessing community social, educational and recreational programs and resources; support and encouragement with exercise, hobbies and socializing outside of the home; music therapy; help with computers; therapeutic recreational camp

Health and Safety Services

• Safety Checks - Support in maintaining a safe and healthy living environment, including habitability inspections, fire and severe weather safety education, problem solving and limit setting with visitors, assistance identifying need for adaptive devices
• Guardianship and Protective Service – Assistance investigating and pursuing suspected cases of financial exploitation or abuse; Legal needs assessment; Attorney preparation and filing of petitions; Hearing representation when needed.
• Care Manager – Provision of full “wrap around” support to coordinate care, provide oversight, advocacy and maintenance of benefits
• 24-Hour Assistance - Availability of around the clock call center with staff to help problem solve, provide listening ear, on site assistance, or notify emergency personnel, family or friends if assistance needed.

Money Management

• Trust Administration – Acceptance of assets as trustee covering full range of stand alone and pooled disability trusts;
• Banking and Bill Pay – Account maintenance, banking and personal budgeting, public benefit management, rent and bill payment, advocacy with landlords and other creditors.
• Power of Attorney/Agency – Hold Power of Attorney or Agency authority from family or institutional trustee, providing daily budget assistance and fund distribution.
• Representative Payeeship – Management of Social Security or other federal agency benefits on behalf of those who have difficulty using the funds to meet basic needs

Mental Health Support

• Medication Management - Coordination of prescriptions, pharmacy liaison, eyes-on medication administration and support, consumer self-medication education and support
• Medical Care Assistance – Help with tracking medical and dental appointments, scheduling with physicians, organizing doctors’ orders and lab results, arranging follow-up care, staff escort and transportation
• Person Centered Plans of Service – Practical Support, encouragement and facilitation of individual goals and recovery or treatment oriented activities.

Housing and Disability Assistance

• Low Income Housing - Safe, well-maintained, affordable housing that is welcoming to those with special needs. Any and all of our In Home Support, Health and Safety, Money Management or Mental Health Support Services are available to tenants.
  1. In Monroe, Michigan, “Linda” is a 6-unit building purchased by Synod in 1991 and renovated into one- and two-bedroom apartments.
  2. “Deake” is a small shared house for low-income tenants in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  3. “The Co-op” is a duplex shared

• Service-Enriched Housing by Referral – Staffed housing programs only available by referral from area community mental health agencies. The type of housing can range from a shared multi-bedroom home to a duplex or apartment house. Similarly the intensity of staffing provided varies with need, from round the clock care to select hours through the week.

Contact us for a customized plan of service based on your individual needs.