With more than 130 dedicated and caring employees who are committed to supporting individuals with disabilities, TSI believes that our employees are our greatest asset.
Transforming communities through the contributions of the people we serve.
View a video of people served by TSI in the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. This pilot project begun in 06/2007 was developed as part of Allegheny County’s Office of Behavioral Health plan for Housing As Home.
Assist TSI with its goal of helping people with mental disabilities to live in the community.
To view the following PDF documents you will need Adobe Reader. Download Here
View the TSI Fall 2011 Newsletter
View the TSI 2010 Annual Report
To view past Newsletters and Annual Reports visit our Information Archive.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) provides additional housing resources including the PA Affordable Apartment Locator.
HousingResources.info is a website designed to help persons who are recovering from mental illness and other disabilities find decent, safe, affordable housing.
- » Ms. Sharon A. Alberts
- » Dr. Robyn Dawes
- » Ms. Joan Geary Gyorkey
- » Mr. Steve Gilliland - SteveGilliland.com
Check out the newly updated version of the “Our Story” presentation that has been developed to commemorate the agency’s 40th Anniversary. Designed as a MS PowerPoint slide show, it is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format as well as viewable online.
Is TSI part of the Allegheny County Mental Health/Mental Retardation system?
Who decides what services my family member will receive?
How much support can TSI offer?
How does my family member spend his/her time during the day?
Do you provide transportation?
How much help do you provide with cooking, shopping, cleaning, and laundry?
How do you assist with medication?
How are personal finances managed?
When do individuals leave the program?
Is TSI part of the Allegheny County Mental Health/Mental Retardation System?
TSI is a private, nonprofit agency that is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and is licensed by the state. Referrals to TSI are received directly through the county or through other county contracted service coordination units.
Who decides what services my family member will receive?
Your family member makes the decisions about what services will be received, and a plan is developed based on their specific goals. TSI works in collaboration with the other agencies that provide services to your family member. TSI works with other agencies to provide comprehensive support to best meet your family member’s needs and desires.
How much support can TSI offer?
The amount of support offered varies based on the type of program and the needs and preferences of the person. Group homes and supervised apartments have staff on site 24 hours a day. Congregate Supported Living Programs have staff on site every day, but do not provide 24-hour coverage. In Community Supported Living, the amount of staff support ranges from a few hours daily to a few hours monthly. Each person participates in an assessment when entering the program to determine the amount of support needed or wanted.
How much is the rent?
In properties that TSI owns or operates, rent is based upon a percentage of the person’s income. Utilities are included. The percentages are determined by state or federal law and vary based on the type of program. Rents range from 30% in HUD subsidized buildings to 72% in group homes where meals are included. There is a maximum ceiling for rent in all buildings.
How does my family member spend his/her time during the day?
Since meaningful activities are part of a full and productive life, and only each individual can determine what is meaningful to them, persons served by TSI programs make choices about the daily activities in which they participate. Their choices can be based on many things, such as their personal preferences, their interests, the accessibility of activities and, most importantly, whether the activity is enjoyable or important to them. Persons served can participate in educational endeavors, paid or volunteer work, treatment-related activities, enrichment or social activities, or recovery programs.
Do you provide transportation?
Whenever possible, people are encouraged to use public transportation. TSI provides mobility training as needed. ACCESS and the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) are also options used by the individuals who receive our services. TSI does not provide transportation on a regular basis. The agency’s vehicles are primarily used for group activities, emergencies and short-term medical necessity.
How much help do you provide with cooking, shopping, cleaning, and laundry?
Our philosophy is “do with” the person, not “do for” the person. TSI provides support and opportunities for learning which are based on individual needs and are designed to help the person served enhance self-sufficiency in living skill areas such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc.
How do you assist with medication?
Ultimately, the individual has the choice about whether or not to take medications. TSI works with the person to help them understand how their medications work and the benefits of taking them as prescribed. Each individual is carefully assessed regarding his/her level of medication independence and, when necessary, support is provided. Some of the support that staff can provide includes: reminders, pill boxes, pill counts and direct support and observation. TSI also works with the person and their doctors to encourage communication regarding how the medications are working and to address problems and concerns.
How are personal finances managed?
TSI follows strict regulatory and ethical guidelines to safeguard individual’s funds. Many individuals who receive our services are able to manage their own finances. With the person’s consent, staff can work with them on budgeting and other money manage- ment issues. TSI is not able to restrict the person’s access to their funds. For individuals who need more assistance, TSI will help to locate a representative payee.
When do individuals leave the program?
There can be several reasons why a person leaves one of TSI’s programs. An individual may be better served in a setting with less or more support. Individuals may become comfortable living on their own and may no longer need or want support, or they may experience changes in their physical or mental health. The person and their support team are involved in the decision-making process.
Where do families fit in?
TSI values the perspective that family members bring and the support that they offer the person. Through our surveys and public forums, TSI offers families an opportunity to give their opinion and make suggestions for improvement. Everyone who receives our services is asked who they would like to have on their support team. Based on the desires of the individual and the family member’s willingness to be involved, the ways that family members can help are unlimited.
What about privacy?
According to state and federal laws, all individuals over the age of 18 have the right to confidentiality. This means that each individual determines with whom his or her personal protected health information may be shared.
