East House, a nonprofit that provides housing and support services to individuals recovering from mental health and substance, will raise the base starting pay for staff to $15 per hour.
“The work our employees do is incredibly tough and their passion and commitment to our clients is what makes this place so special,” East House President and CEO Kim Brumber. “While this increase is a step in the right direction, we need the community and our elected officials to know this is not the only answer. We continue to face ongoing pressures as the scope of practice and staff responsibility has increased, client health challenges have grown more complex and the labor market continues to be extremely competitive. The health of our community depends on programs and services like East House.”
East House employs 215 full-time, part-time and per-diem employees and is one of the few providers in the region that specialize in both mental health and substance use disorders for adults, as regulated by both the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The baseline-pay change comes amid increasing demand for services, due in part to the pandemic.
East House works with more than 1,500 clients annually, most of whom live below the poverty line and receive a continuum of supported residential care including short-term respite, 24-hour community living, apartments with on-site staff and independent living support. Education, employment and financial case management also are important elements to wellness and healing and East House provides a network of wraparound recovery services that continue to evolve based on client needs.
The nonprofit organization was founded in 1966.
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