LEADS is the Key!
Every man who enters the shelter is assessed for all basic needs (food, clothing, health care, mental health care and treatment). After choosing to stay in programming, each man is assigned a case manager who, with the individual, creates a case and housing plan. Individual Service Plans (ISPs) are the core of the LEADS program service-delivery model. The ISP team of professional staff assists each man in creating, following and modifying a comprehensive recovery plan that addresses 14 life areas (i.e. income, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, legal issues, etc.). Men progress through the five criteria-based LEADS stages by making adequate progress on their individualized service plan goals, attending appointments, following shelter rules and abstaining from the use of alcohol and drugs. By the time they complete the final stage, men have secured appropriate permanent housing and obtained a sustainable income to ensure their financial stability.