Samuel Hernandez, in the supervised housing where he has lived for nearly 3 years. He says he is "highly functional" and will take his chances on his own. (Fred Mogul/WNYC)

NEW YORK, NY November 23, 2006 —Samuel Hernandez is one of nearly a million city residents with serious mental disorders. He has lived in supervised housing for almost three years. But as of last week, he planned to check out and take his chances. The 40-year-old Hernandez grew up on Staten Island. He graduated high school, briefly attended college, and later was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He now believes it is "in remission."

WNYC’s Fred Mogul spoke to Hernandez, while he was moving his possessions -- one backpack at a time -- from his Flatbush apartment to a storage unit three neighborhoods and two subway rides away.

Music: "Don't Tell Her," (c) Paul Brill, 2006, Scarlet Shame Productions

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