For Steve Klein, finding stable, long-term housing for older people who are also living with mental illnesses has been a struggle. 

"The most important thing is for somebody to have safe housing and housing that meets their various needs," Klein said.  

Klein is the executive director of Mohawk Opportunities, a Schenectady-based organization that provides housing support and services for people with severe mental illnesses.  

Older New Yorkers living with mental illnesses face the concurrent problem of stable, long-term housing. A measure heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk is meant to address the problem through the creation of a task force to assess the needs facing vulnerable and aging people. 

"Often it's the difference between being homeless, being actively psychotic, possibly even being dangerous to others," Klein said. 

The group has four community residences that provide housing for 34 people. The wait list is 80 people long. And much of the available housing isn't meeting the needs of people with mental illnesses. Many nursing homes aren't equipped to take them as residents, and so they can often be moved from hospitals to temporary housing. 

Sebrina Barrett, the executive director of the Association for Community Living, said that underscores the statewide need. 

Advocates say the disruptions of moving vulnerable people from hospitals to temporary living conditions can harm longevity, especially for older people. 

"Many who are coming to us were previously homeless or were in prison and they may not have family or loved ones that can support them," Barrett said. "Their only hope is to find a house in community-based mental health housing to help them feel secure, safe and become independent."

Hochul wants to spend $1 billion in the coming years to address an array of mental health needs in New York. Advocates have been cheered by the funding, but say more help — especially from expanded staffing — is needed.  

"If we had the staffing that had the credentials and the training, we would be able to provide preventative care, we would be able to meet their medical needs on the stop and treat them before their situation becomes even worse," Barrett said.