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SOUTHERN TIER ENVIRONMENTS FOR LIVING INC

DUNKIRK, NY · EIN 222360739 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P730 · Human Services · Large ($10M-$50M) · stel.org
revenue
$12.1M
expenses
$12.8M
net assets
$6.8M
employees
197
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

CARE FOR THE MENTALLY DISABLED AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOW INCOME HOUSING.

profile · synthesized from sources

Southern Tier Environments for Living Inc (STEL) is a nonprofit organization established in 1980 that provides rehabilitative and support services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities in Western New York and parts of Pennsylvania. The organization operates residential programs, case management, supported employment, and affordable housing initiatives. STEL follows the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model to help individuals develop skills for independent living, work, and community integration.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    STEL, INC. OWNS 100% OF FIRST APARTMENTS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY, INC. FIRST APARTMENTS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY, INC. OPERATES A 16 UNIT FACILITY IN OLEAN, NY FOR PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
  2. #2 $0
    STEL, INC. OWNS 100% OF TRI-COUNTY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY, INC. TRI-COUNTY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY, INC. OPERATES A 37 UNIT FACILITY IN DUNKIRK, NY FOR PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Home Services (Southern Tier Meadows)
24-hour supported living in a 24-room adult home near Fredonia for individuals with mental health needs, licensed by the NY Department of Health
Affordable Housing
Safe, clean rental housing for low-income disabled individuals in Dunkirk, Olean, and South Dayton, NY
Community Residences
Licensed 24-hour supervised residences in Dunkirk, Jamestown, Gowanda, Olean, and Wellsville for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, providing rehabilitative services to support transition to independence
Compeer Chautauqua
Volunteer-based one-to-one friendship program matching trained volunteers with mental health recipients to reduce isolation and build social connections
Housing Development and Property Management
Statewide housing development and property management services in New York and Western Pennsylvania, focused on affordable and supportive housing for persons with special needs
Single Room Occupancy (SRO)
Independent living in private rooms with shared facilities in Allegany, Chautauqua, and Southern Erie counties, including personalized support planning for individuals with psychiatric disabilities
Supported Housing
Permanent affordable housing with supportive counseling and community linkages for individuals with mental illness in Cattaraugus and Erie counties
Supportive and Intensive Case Management
Comprehensive case management for individuals with severe mental illness in Cattaraugus County, including home visits and individualized support plans
Treatment Apartments
Transitional housing with 24-hour on-call support in Dunkirk, Jamestown, Gowanda, Olean, and Wellsville, offering skill-building and stabilization services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities
Work Force
Vocational development and training program to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities obtain and maintain competitive employment
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Supportive Housing for Mental Illness 3 activities
    • Operates 24-hour supervised residential and treatment programs
      Provides 24-hour staffed residential support in community residences and treatment apartments located in Dunkirk, Jamestown, Gowanda, Olean, Wellsville, and Fredonia, NY. These programs serve individuals with mental illness and support their stabilization and reintegration into the community.
    • Operates single room occupancy (SRO) housing programs
      Manages SRO residences in Allegany, Chautauqua, and Southern Erie Counties with individualized support plans and no time limits on residency, providing stable housing for individuals with mental illness or other disabilities.
    • Provides supported housing with ongoing supportive services
      Offers permanent, independent housing combined with supportive services such as counseling, landlord negotiation, and daily living skills development. Includes transition housing with 24-hour on-call support in STEL-owned apartments, serving individuals with mental illness across multiple counties.
  • Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
    • Conducts program evaluation through stakeholder satisfaction surveys
      Conducts annual satisfaction surveys of residents, families, referral sources, and treatment providers to assess service quality and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Delivers vocational rehabilitation and employment support services
      Runs the WorkForce program, which provides vocational development, training, and job placement services to help individuals with disabilities secure and maintain employment in competitive, integrated work environments.
  • Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
    • Develops and operates affordable housing for persons with special needs and low- to moderate-income individuals
      Develops, owns, and manages affordable housing units across New York State and western Pennsylvania for people with disabilities and low- to moderate-income individuals. Includes permanent, independent, and supported housing options with no time limits on residency, operating through a wholly owned subsidiary.
  • Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
    • Maintains administrative infrastructure across multiple locations
      Operates a main office in Dunkirk, NY and satellite offices in Jamestown, NY to support service delivery across southern New York, with public staff directories available.
  • Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 1 activity
    • Provides peer support programs for adults and youth
      Operates COMPEER Chautauqua, offering one-on-one peer support programs for both adults and youth that pair trained volunteers with mental health recipients to promote social connection, emotional well-being, and recovery.
  • Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery Services 1 activity
    • Provides rehabilitative and support services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities
      Delivers comprehensive rehabilitative and support services including case management, social supports, vocational rehabilitation, and skill-building for individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Services are provided in Cattaraugus, Allegany, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties, NY, with home visits and individualized support planning.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$12.12M
Contributions & grants$13K0%
Program service revenue$12.82M106%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$-706K
expenses
Total expenses$12.81M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$8.78M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.44M
Cash$1.07M
Investments$334K
Liabilities$4.67M
Net assets$6.77M
Liquid reserves1.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
THOMAS J WHITNEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $194K
board members · 7
  • CHRISTOPHER SENDKER — VICE-PRESIDENT
  • DAVID MATERNOWSKI — PRESIDENT
  • JOHN ROACH — DIRECTOR
  • KAREN LADD — DIRECTOR
  • LT BENJAMIN MILLER — SECRETARY
  • RANDY ELF — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS GEISLER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Boston University Network — Adopts the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model developed at Boston University.
  • Boston University Network — Adopts the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model developed by Boston University.
  • Client Caseworker Partner — Point of contact for referral process coordination.
  • Department of Health Government — Licensing agency for Southern Tier Meadows adult home
  • First Apartments Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. Partner — Wholly owned subsidiary that operates a 16-unit affordable housing facility in Olean, NY.
  • NYS Office of Mental Health Government — Licensing agency for Community Residences and Treatment Apartments programs
  • Other services providers Partner — Collaborates with other service providers to support resident stabilization and skill development.
  • Paypal Partner — Processes credit card donations for STEL through a secured payment system.
  • Tri-County Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. Partner — Wholly owned subsidiary that operates a 37-unit affordable housing facility in Dunkirk, NY.
  • other agencies Partner — Collaborates to develop affordable housing for persons with special needs in New York and Western Pennsylvania.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Crisis Prevention through Timely Support
    methodology: crisis_prevention
    By providing timely support services, the organization prevents psychiatric hospitalizations, homelessness, and unsafe living conditions because early intervention reduces escalation of mental health crises.
  • Integrated Supportive Housing
    methodology: supportive_housing
    By integrating affordable housing development with mental health care services, the organization improves housing stability and wellness outcomes because co-locating housing and clinical support removes systemic barriers to access.
  • Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model
    methodology: psychiatric_rehabilitation_model
    By applying the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model, the organization helps individuals with psychiatric disabilities develop skills for living, learning, working, and socializing in their communities because structured skill-building increases functional independence and community integration.
  • Rehabilitative and Transitional Housing with Progressive Independence
    methodology: rehabilitative_and_transitional_housing
    By using a rehabilitative and transitional housing model that emphasizes life skills development and individualized pacing, the organization supports residents in achieving stabilization and progressive independence because tailored support reduces relapse and increases long-term community reintegration success.
  • Supported Housing Model
    methodology: supported_housing_model
    By combining permanent independent housing with flexible support services such as counseling and landlord negotiation, the organization sustains tenancy and improves quality of life because ongoing, low-barrier support reduces housing instability among individuals with mental health challenges.