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For Steven McCoy, the possibility of moving out of a residence and into his own apartment started to feel achievable when his best friend moved out in January of 2020. Almost exactly a year later, McCoy moved from the Jackson Heights Supportive IRA to his own apartment on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.
Before making the move, McCoy had to demonstrate to himself and to staff that he had the necessary skills to live independently.
“Steven needed to show he could pay his own bills and knows who to contact in case of an emergency,” said Supervisor Kervin Germain. “He had a challenge—he was good at paying for his wants and not for his needs. But he worked on that and started saving money as well.”
McCoy is thrilled to be in his own space in Brooklyn. Not only is he closer to his friend who wound up moving to Williamsburg, but he’s also closer to his girlfriend.
“I wanted to try something different and live somewhere different. I really like it here,” said McCoy. “I’m proud of myself. I’m happy that I moved out and I succeeded. If it wasn’t for the staff, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Everybody helped a lot. I needed to grow.”