Home Based Supports
Services and supports are provided for an individual in his/her natural home. The type of support is tailored to the individual's need. Examples of this service include: Therapy and Respite. An individual may also receive "day time" services, including Employment supports.

There are currently 40 people in the city who are receiving home-based supports and Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation has requested that the state provide additional funding to increase this number over the next two years. Funding for these services is through the In-Home Waiver.

Family/Companion Living (Also known as Life Sharing)
An individual receives services and supports as an integral part of a caring family, though not with natural parents. The family home is licensed, the family receives training and the agency provides supports to the individual and the family through the program specialist. Waiver funding is used to support individuals in Family/Companion Living. There are over 60 people currently living with families or companions.

Supportive Living Arrangements
An individual receives less than 30 hours per week of staff supports. The individual may live in his/her own apartment or family house, either alone or with housemates. Currently, there are 70 people receiving this type of staff support in areas such as meal planning, money management, etc. Whenever possible, waiver funding is used for these supports.

Community Homes (CLAs)
An individual receives supports and services in a house or apartment with up to 24 hour/7 day per week staffing. The CLA is the individual's home for as long as he/she desires. Philadelphia provides funding for over 550 Community Homes. There are 30 agencies under contract with the city to provide the supports and services tailored to the needs of each individual residing in a CLA. These homes are licensed by the State Department of Public Welfare. Usually, three people live in each home; but there are homes for as few as one person and as many as six. The larger homes are typically homes that opened in the 1970's or early 80's. All new development for Community Homes is for three or fewer people. Over 78% of these services are supported through waiver funding.

There are currently over 1000 people on the Philadelphia waiting list for this service. During any given month, 25 to 30 of these individuals are in crisis. For the past three Fiscal Years, 65 to 75 people who were living with their families received full-time CLA services.

Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICF/MR)
ICF/MR’s provide services and supports for people who can "benefit from active treatment". There are 31 small (nine or fewer people) ICF/MR’s and three large (84 to 147 people) in the city. The eight agencies providing this service are under contract with the State Department of Public Welfare and must comply with federal regulations governing the actual provision of services. The city is responsible for all referrals to ICF/MR’s and for providing oversight.