The Living Well Program-Supporting Sobriety and Job Readiness at Permanent Supportive Housing-Cady Lofts and the Roz
The Living Well Program is a mental health, recovery, and wellness initiative that helps residents stabilize, heal, and thrive after experiencing homelessness. At its core, Living Well supports two outcomes that matter most for long-term stability: sustained abstinence from substance use and readiness for employment. The program is led by Resident Engagement Specialists who bring a unique blend of academic training and lived experience, enabling them to build the trust and credibility needed to support residents through recovery and toward self-sufficiency.
The Living Well program is supported through Endeavors and the City of Austin Homeless Strategy Office.
Monday through Friday at noon, the Living Well Program offers group sessions for residents to attend. These sessions are voluntary and supported through an incentive system: residents who attend three groups per week for four consecutive weeks earn the opportunity to purchase an item valued at around $100. It's heartwarming to see what residents choose — often clothing for their children or gifts for loved ones.
These groups focus on the key concepts of achieving and maintaining sobriety, drawing from Alcoholics/ Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and Dharma, and rooted in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). Groups are led by staff who have themselves successfully recovered from substance abuse and homelessness.
Group sessions focus on peer support, the cycle of addiction, and anxiety management
Preparation for holidays and other high-risk, potentially triggering life events
Ongoing support for residents sustaining recovery after completing a rehabilitation program, along with early identification of residents who may need more intensive treatment
By meeting residents where they are, Living Well helps replace the isolation and unstructured time that often accompany early recovery with routine, purpose, and meaningful engagement.
Every Monday afternoon the Living Well Program focuses on creative expression/art. Our residents have created mosaic tiling, paintings, jewelry, self-care products, collages, and diamond art, among other projects.
Art afternoons serve a dual purpose: they provide an outlet for processing emotions and experiences, and an opportunity to connect with staff and fellow residents. They're also a chance for residents to create pieces that will be sold at the annual HSSA Maker's Market.
Tuesday afternoons focus on nutrition, alternating between our Fresh Food Market — where residents can pick up healthy groceries — and cooking demonstrations.
The cooking demonstrations vary in purpose. Sometimes they're simple, using ingredients residents already have on hand or that are provided at the Fresh Food Market. Other times, they're a chance to expand residents' culinary horizons — introducing them to new dishes or letting them sample something they've likely never tried and may not otherwise get the chance to enjoy, almost like a small splurge.
Dishes we've made with residents include turkey wraps in romaine lettuce, veggie stir fry, Thai salad, and stuffed chicken.
Typical items at the Fresh Food Market include milk, cheese, eggs, bread, produce, and pantry staples, as well as feminine hygiene and cleaning supplies.
Wednesday afternoons are all about sports and exercise. We've taken residents golfing, swimming, and played pickleball and volleyball. We have shown them how to properly use the rowing and weight resistance equipment in the property's fitness room. And a resident favorite... bowling!
Moving your body, breaking a sweat, and enjoying a little friendly competition are all part of recovery — from substance abuse, from trauma, and are truly part of living well.
Thursday afternoons touch on financial management. We've been fortunate to partner with Bank OZK, who comes in to present the building blocks of financial wellness to our residents. We also use materials from the Center for Financial Social Work to provide information and guide discussions with residents.
After all that money talk, we fire up the grill and residents come together in our beautiful community spaces to socialize, visit with one another, and enjoy a meal.
Fridays are for fun — good, clean, sober fun. The HSSA Sober Social Outing is one of the cornerstones of the Living Well program.
Learning to have fun without drugs and alcohol is a critical part of building a sustainable recovery. Our outings have included plays, going to see the Congress Avenue bat colony, a UT basketball game, art museums, an Austin FC game, a chili cook-off, the AcroCats show, laser tag, movies, going out for ice cream, shooting pool, and even axe throwing!
For many of our residents, these are experiences they've never had the chance to enjoy. Giving people the opportunity to be active, social, and genuinely happy while sober is a meaningful part of recovery — and it opens their eyes to what life can look like without drugs and alcohol.
Saturdays are dedicated to cleaning support. Residents do their laundry and can borrow mops, brooms, and cleaning supplies, with light assistance available as needed.
A clean, organized living space does more than look nice — it supports mental clarity, reduces stress, and helps create a sense of stability that's especially important during recovery.
Hoarding is an issue we're increasingly seeing among residents, and one we're actively working to address. Our staff is pursuing certification through the Center for Hoarding to better understand and support residents who struggle with this issue.
Sundays are dedicated to spirituality. We've provided transportation to churches, hosted churches on-site for services, taken residents to guided meditations and sound baths, and held Bible studies.
These offerings are entirely voluntary, and we welcome residents of all faiths, and none, to participate in whatever ways feel meaningful to them.