In 1975, William DeVita, a young graduate student, envisioned a better life for people with mental illness. Toward that end, he opened a variety store at the Capital District Psychiatric Center as a small not-for-profit corporation that employed people with psychiatric disabilities. Four years later, the proceeds from the store were used to launch two group homes in Albany specifically designed to provide stable housing and psychiatric rehabilitation services to adults with serious mental illness.

The first two group homes in Albany were Northern Boulevard Community Residence and South Main Community Residence. Both programs opened the same day in December 1979 and were incorporated under the name of Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc. (RSS).

Since then, RSS has grown steadily, guided by its continuous commitment to specialized care and service innovation. The agency developed new programs and services in response to the critical need for effective community mental health care. RSS became one of the largest and most diverse mental health agencies in New York State.

In 1997, RSS joined forces with Planned Community Living, Inc. (PCL) of Westchester County and Multi County Community Development Corporation (MCCDC) to create one of the strongest community service affiliations in New York State. Also in 1997, RSS created Job Builder's, Inc. (JBI), a consulting arm to meet the needs demands of government and not-for-profit agencies to access RSS's expertise in program development, program management, training and technical assistance.

Today, the RSS, PCL, MCCDC and JBI family of corporations is one of the largest affiliations of its type in New York. Serving the disabled and disadvantaged, combined service provide:

Community Mental Health Programs
Programs for people with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
Services for people with Dual Diagnosis
Services for people involved in the correctional system
Other Services

For people with mental Illness:

Adult Housing (18+)
Senior Housing
Children & Adolescent Housing
Vocational Training & Case Management
Job Coaching
Educational Services
Clinical Services
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
Psychosocial Clubs
Intensive Case management

For people with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities:

Housing
Case management
Day Care

For people with dual diagnosis:

Housing for people with Mental Illness and Chemical or Substance Abuse
Housing for people with Mental Illness and Mental Retardation

For people involved in the correctional system:

Housing
Day Program/Case Management

Additional Services:

Welfare to Work Employment Training
Housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS
Housing for individuals with a history of substance abuse
Adult Day Care
Child Care
Transportation