Mental Health Group Provides Grants to Reduce Homelessness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on September 26 that they will award nine grants to local mental health agencies in order to reduce chronic homelessness among individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

SAMHSA will award local mental health organization nearly $17.5 million over five years in order to reduce chronic homelessness among mentally ill individuals. SAMHSA administrator, Terry Cline, Ph.D. asserted, "This initiative will provide chronically homeless individuals and families additional services and treatment needed to remain housed in a permanent setting."

Several services will be provided with the grant funding including: training in independent living skills, mental health treatment, including trauma and post-traumatic stress treatment, medication management, self-help programs, outreach, services that support housing retention, motivational interventions, support gaining income, substance abuse treatment, treatment for co-occurring mental illnesses, case management, and crisis intervention.

More specifically, these nine mental health organizations will receive grant funding to provide specific services to their communities:

Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Anchorage, Alaska: This organization will receive $374,663 in the first year in order to create Welcome Home. Welcome Home will mainly assist Alaska Natives and American Indians who are chronically homeless and suffer from mental illness or co-occurring disorders. Welcome Home will provide connections to mental health professionals and social services as well as assist individuals with locating and obtaining permanent housing.

Central City Concern, Portland, Oregon: This organization will use its funding ($375,000) in its Community Engagement Program, assisting 75 individuals with mental illness in helping them locate and remain in permanent housing.