Located in Prineville, Oregon, Prairie House is a unique new affordable housing facility for adults dealing with mental illness. Completed in April, 2006, the project is the result of a five-year effort by Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Housing Works and Crook County.

“It’s been a long, hard road to get here,” Veronica recalls. “The biggest challenge for me has been the stigma of mental health problems and people’s preconceptions. But here, all of us have been through many of the same experiences.”

“I’m 37 and I finally have a place to call my own. I like the independence – the feeling of being able to breathe. I can walk to LCS for counseling, to the grocery story and the post office. I love my new home. I feel blessed.”

Prairie House was specifically developed to serve the needs of low-income adults with mental illness, and is the first facility of its kind in Crook County. It includes seven one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom resident manager’s apartment. The building includes a common area for meetings and activities, computer room, laundry room, fenced yard and garden area. Prairie House is integrated into the local community and is within easy walking distance of downtown, giving residents greater access to services and employment opportunities.

Other residents share Veronica’s feelings about Prairie House. “I like the fact that it’s secure and centrally-located,” emphasizes Brett. “The most important thing to me is the feeling of being part of a family.” Joleen adds, “I like everything about it!”

“The residents and I meet as a group each Monday to plan outings and activities,” notes Julie Branaugh, LCS’ Residents’ Services Coordinator for Prairie House. “What our residents most value is the sense of family…of community.”

To be eligible to live in Prairie House, residents must have a diagnosis of a severe and persistent mental illness, be receiving mental health services from LCS’ Crook County Mental Health office, and meet low-income criteria. Most residents have an annual income of $10,000 or less.

The development of Prairie House came about through a partnership between LCS and Housing Works (formerly Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority). “Lutheran Community Services provides the very best mental health services and had an innovative vision for integrating mental health services and housing in this community,” emphasizes Housing Works Executive Director Cyndy Cook. “Without the support services provided by LCS, projects like this would not be possible.”

Funding for the $1.7 million project came from a variety of federal, state and local grants and agencies, including Oregon Housing and Community Services, the Oregon Housing Trust Fund, the HELP program and Oregon Mental Health and Addiction Services. The City of Prineville stepped in to help make up a shortfall caused by rising construction costs.

Stable, affordable housing for adults with mental illnesses, combined with support services, has been shown to significantly reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalization, and at a cost of about 1/12 of the cost of hospitalization. Programs like Prairie House have also proved to be a stepping-stone for people to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency.