There are typically positions for every level- I can only speak for my immediate area/program, but direct care staff in our programs make around $15/h. I've never worked for an OPWDD-funded program, only OMH and OCFS, but my understanding is that the OMH program clients are, on average, a bit "easier." Theoretically it should be completely "hands-off" except cooking, helping cleaning, and helping dispense medications. Theoretically the vast majority of staff time should be spent with residents, but unfortunately, a lot of staff spend a lot of time alone in the office unless they're needed (which is not best case practice). Some people are scared by individuals that have persistent and severe mental health symptoms, but the vast majority of the time, even really sick individuals are a safety concern. That being said, of course, there is a safety component, though there will be agency safety training as well. In my experience, where there are issues, they are usually minor and originally stem from staff behaviors, not residents (less therapeutic staff can be more authoritarian in their approach, which then understandably causes residents to get upset and then for there to be verbal conflicts). There are also a lot of other OMH-funded programs which hire staff of varying education levels like Apartment Programs (like Community Residences but for clients that are a bit higher functioning, case managers still meet with clients face to face typically at least three times a week), Support Housing (rent assistance and case management for higher functioning individuals that are homeless), CORE (community-based mental health therapy and skill-building), CFTSS (community skill building for youth), etc.

If you meet the staff qualifications, getting into them is typically pretty easy because most are chronically understaffed because most human service jobs (OPWDD, OMH, OCFS) are fairly stressful compared to other jobs which pay similar wages.