The Rainbow Heights Club is a Club for mental health consumers who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning. The Club as headed by Dr. Christian Huygen, Executive Director, Rebecca Hoffman, Director and Darren Hoke, Deputy Director has had a profound effect on my life as a member of the Club for 8-1/2 years.
I live alone, having no family. Before I began going to the Rainbow Heights Club I was alone and isolated with nothing interesting to do. I would sleep all night and all day long. But immediately when I began attending the Club, I was surrounded by a caring milieu of staff and other members. There were (and continue to be) support groups, where I have been able to share my true thoughts and feelings in a safe, affirming environment, and learn new coping strategies and new skills along with the other members. Some of the support groups include recovery from addictions, cooking groups, art therapy groups, Lesbian and Gay groups, as well as fun activities, such as karaoke on Friday nights. There are outings to the Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn Museum, Staten Island Ferry and the Gay Pride March held in June.
There is a meal served every single day (Monday through Friday) which we members help to prepare and serve. We commune with one another as we share the meal and our thoughts with one another. The atmosphere is truly loving and cherishing of each one of us in our uniqueness. And this is due to the leadership of the above-mentioned staff and those they hire, who are consistently caring and responsive to our needs.
The results are evident: nearly 90% of us Club members stay out of psychiatric hospital, both in ER visits and in psych admissions. And the Rainbow Heights Club does all this on a shoestring budget of $600,000 per year.
The Rainbow Heights Club has shown leadership in training mental health providers in the cultural competency required to successfully treat LGBT mental health consumers, like us. The Rainbow Heights Club is truly a special agency and has proven to be a model for how other Clubs for LGBT mental health consumers might be established and run.
Review from Guidestar