Rachel and Adrian, both in their thirties, are telling a group of about ten people how they each spent months searching for an affordable apartment in Manhattan. Someone in the group suggests a supported housing grant to supplement their rent payment. Ultimately, they decide to pursue the grant together and become roommates.

These two women met on New York's Upper West Side at a meeting of Awakenings – an informal group of people who have schizophrenia. About a dozen in number, they meet once a week in participants' homes to talk about their experiences and share financial advice.

These men and women come from different ethnic, professional, financial, and educational backgrounds. What they have in common is that they all live with schizophrenia. But with the help of new antipsychotic medications they are able to function better in the community.

"Economic difficulties are the common denominators shared by almost every person with mental illness," says Todd Huckabone, 25, one of the leaders of the Awakenings group. "Our groups break down the walls of loneliness and give members a place to feel like they are really wanted and needed – and where there is the opportunity to learn from others to manage our lives and our finances."

Awakenings is not a typical support group – not a step program or a therapy group. "We deal with very practical real-life issues like how to conduct yourself on job interviews and where the best thrift stores are," says Huckabone.

Conversations often focus on where to shop and get the best buys and how to get discounts with a disability card. And participants will even share coupons and ways to cut and save on grocery bills and electric bills. "I found out that something as simple as getting a ceiling fan in the summer saves a lot on air conditioning," he says.

During Awakenings groups, participants also have the chance to learn about full- or part-time jobs. In one recent meeting, one attendee learned about a job opening at Starbucks and another discovered that there are employment agencies specializing in placing the mentally ill. The group is currently developing a self-help manual.

The high attendance at Awakenings meetings is based in part on the efforts of its founders, who placed announcements in newsletters and even on a free public service TV bulletin board. "Obviously something is working," says Peter Lasher, 35. "More and more members are coming to every meeting."

For more information, call Dan Frey at (212) 982-5233 or Rick Sostchen at (718) 875-7744.