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News Release

HHS AWARDS $14 MILLION TO IMPROVE CARE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
Grants To Strengthen Substance Abuse Treatment, Mental Health and Primary Care

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $14 million in grants to expand and strengthen community substance abuse treatment services and primary health care for homeless individuals experiencing substance abuse disorders and/or mental illness.

"As a society we will be judged by our ability to help our most vulnerable members," Secretary Thompson said. "We cannot allow persons with severe substance abuse or mental health problems to live in the streets. We must provide shelter and treatment for their disorders."

Today's awards include 19 grants totaling almost $11 million to expand and strengthen community treatment for homeless individuals with substance abuse disorders, mental illness or with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental illness. These Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who are Homeless grants are administered by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

"On any given night, upwards of 600,000 persons are homeless," SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, noted. "These funds will help meet needs by promoting entry to housing and helping individuals remain housed, while they are receiving the treatment they need for substance abuse, mental illness or both."

The "homeless" in these grants also include "doubled-up" -- those persons who are at imminent risk for becoming homeless because they are sharing another person's dwelling on a temporary basis. These persons are sheltered as long as the primary occupant of the home is willing to continue the arrangement and could be thrust out on the street at any time without notice.

Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds and progress achieved by the grantees. The average award ranges from $450,000 to $600,000 per year in total costs and will be awarded for a period of up to 3 years.

Today's announcement also includes 13 awards totaling $3 million to increase the availability of mental health and primary health care services for homeless people with serious mental illness. These Collaboration to Link Health Care for the Homeless Programs and Community Mental Health Agencies grants are administered jointly by SAMHSA and HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

"This new program creates a model of collaboration that may well pave the way for joint efforts in many communities," said HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D. "It's important that we work together at the community level to address the complex needs of homeless individuals and families."

A list of the grant amounts and projects follows:

Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who are Homeless Grants:

The Center for Health Care Services, San Antonio, Texas -- $599,924 -- to implement a program that blends treatment models to create a systems integration approach to prevent or reduce substance use, increase stable housing, prevent or reduce involvement in the criminal justice system, enhance vocational opportunities, and improve the health and mental status of homeless project participants.

Unity Health System, Rochester, N.Y. -- $523,738 -- to prevent recurring episodes of homelessness, incarceration and hospitalization among 100 persons with severe mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. The program will use long-term intensive intervention to ensure that clients receive a comprehensive array of needed services.

Integrated Life Center, Inc., Decatur, Ga. -- $600,000 -- to provide a 12 week intensive outpatient co-occurring treatment program for homeless males.

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M. -- $600,000 -- to expand services to Albuquerque's runaways by expanding, linking and enhancing services for street youth. The program will offer substance abuse and mental health treatment that addresses the needs of homeless persons.

Community Connections, Inc., Washington, D.C. -- $586,711 -- to serve individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders who are living in time-limited housing in Washington, D.C.

Meta House, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. -- $600,000 -- to expand and enhance services to homeless women and their children by using a "one stop shop" for housing, other basic needs, and culturally and gender appropriate treatment.

Camillus House, Inc., Miami, Fla. -- $599,769 -- to address the severe gaps in treatment and system weaknesses associated with the intertwined issues of homelessness, substance abuse and mental health in Miami. The initiative will serve 202 homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders.

The Fortune Society, New York, N.Y. -- $600,000 -- to target homeless ex-offenders by expanding its outpatient substance abuse treatment program to provide treatment for 120 homeless, recently released prisoners with diagnosable substance abuse disorders.

Star of Hope, Houston, Texas -- $470,398 -- to enhance and expand its supportive housing program to include comprehensive mental health treatment for homeless women and their children, focusing on those with a recent history of substance abuse.

San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, Calif. -- $599,769 -- to integrate behavioral health treatment into the services provided for the recently homeless residents of the six locally funded, supportive housing sites. The project will provide direct behavioral health counseling, case management, off-site substance abuse and mental health treatment, and methadone maintenance.

Ridgeview Psychiatric Center, Inc., Oak Ridge, Tenn. -- $599,922 -- to integrate core treatment practices for rural homeless persons with co-occurring disorders.

Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indianapolis, Ind. -- $600,000 -- to expand access to services for homeless persons with co-occurring mental health and addictions disorders by building upon community partnerships between homeless service agencies and treatment providers.

Horizon House, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. -- $586,574 -- to bring individuals with long histories of substance abuse, street homelessness, and serious mental illness in from the streets and stabilize them in permanent housing.

Gateway Community Services, Jacksonville, Fla. -- $600,000 -- to deliver case management, addictions and mental health services to 210 homeless, dually diagnosed, medically complex persons.

Amethyst, Inc., Columbus, Ohio -- $382,274 -- to enhance treatment services for women to include substance abuse treatment, physical and mental health services, recovery from trauma, case management, family programming and employment readiness.

Contra Costa County Health Services, Martinez, Calif. -- $600,000 -- to create new assessment and outpatient recovery resources centers for the homeless. This will include new residential treatment slots for substance abuse, dedicated dual diagnosis treatment slots, and dedicated sober living beds within a homeless shelter in combination with intensive day treatment slots.

Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Round Lake, Ill. -- $600,000 -- to enhance services to homeless women and women in danger of becoming homeless. The program will provide on-site mental health and substance abuse assessments at four Lake County women's shelters.

Colorado Coalition for Homeless, Denver, Colo. -- $599,642 -- to implement a range of culturally competent and integrated substance abuse treatment and mental health services, coupled with housing, health care and supportive services for homeless adults.

Truman Medical Center, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. -- $558,601 -- to create a treatment continuum designed for homeless adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

SAMHSA/HRSA Collaboration to Link Health Care for the Homeless Programs and Community Mental Health Agencies Grants:

The Mental Health Corporation of Denver, Denver, Colo., Recovery Connection -- $232,696 -- to promote the recovery of homeless individuals with severe mental illness by offering psychosocial rehabilitation services as an incentive to participate in integrated service planning and delivery of physical, mental health, substance abuse treatment and housing. Recovery Connection includes a team from the Mental Health Corporation of Denver and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

COPE Behavioral Services, Tucson, Ariz., Integrated Health Care for the Homeless Project -- $199,081 -- to improve the availability of comprehensive mental health, substance abuse and primary care services by integrating behavioral health services provided by COPE with services provided at the El Rio Health Care for the Homeless Project, which provides primary health care for the homeless. The project will also increase the capacity of the El Rio project for up to 100 homeless adults with serious mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

Aurora Mental Health Center, Aurora, Colo. -- $199,970 -- an effort of the Metro Community Provider Network and Aurora Mental Health Center to use a co-located team to provide primary health care, mental health care and substance disorder treatment to families with children living near East Colfax Avenue. The project will target both casual or emergency users of services and those who demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of being available for 12-month follow-up contacts.

Mojave Adult, Child, and Family Services, Las Vegas, Nev., Mental Health for the Homeless Project --$260,925 -- a joint effort with Nevada Health Centers Inc. that will co-locate services to bring comprehensive mental health services, specialized substance abuse treatment and primary health care to persons who are homeless and suffer from severe, debilitating mental illnesses.

Kentucky River Community Care, Inc., Jackson, Ky., The Appalachian Homeless Assertive Services Partnership -- $200,000 -- to address the mix of the current addiction to narcotic analgesics such as OxyContin, and the long, regional history of severe mental illness, family violence, child abuse and alcoholism that make for increased Appalachian homelessness in southeast Kentucky. This program is a partnership between Hazard-Perry County Community Ministries and Kentucky River Community Care.

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, INC., Albuquerque, N.M. -- $233,247 -- a collaboration with the University of New Mexico Mental Health Center and additional partners. The goal of this project is to improve treatment and housing outcomes for seriously mentally ill adults who experience homelessness.

Chicago Health Outreach, Chicago, Ill. -- $250,000 -- a collaboration with Community Counseling centers of Chicago to provide a seamless delivery system for homeless individuals with a mental illness. The partnership will coordinate joint service delivery on a weekly basis to 7-12 agencies.

Primary Care Health Services, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. -- $283,333 -- a collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to integrate several community mental health agencies with Primary Care Health Services' Health Care for the Homeless Program. The goal is to improve availability of comprehensive health services to their homeless population while eliminating duplication and reducing fragmentation of health services.

Metropolitan Development Council, Tacoma, Wash., Health Care for the Homeless Program -- $228,084 -- a collaboration with Comprehensive Mental Health Center to provide treatment on demand for persons entering ongoing mental health services. The project will increase access to psychiatric medications and begin to establish a trusting relationship with homeless clients.

Centro San Vicente, El Paso, Texas -- $166,667 -- a collaboration with El Paso Community for Mental Health/ Mental Retardation Services to address the needs of 200 homeless individuals per year who require mental health services, including those with co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

Family Health Centers, Inc., Louisville, Ky. -- $206,250 -- a collaboration with Seven Counties Services, Inc., a community mental health agency. The program will provide services to homeless people, as well as serve as a model of how primary care providers and mental health professionals can work together to provide holistic medical care.

Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Inc., Boston, Mass. -- $233,334 -- a collaboration with the Massachusetts Mental Health Center to expand and combine their resources to increase their effectiveness in engaging and treating a group of 120 chronically homeless adults in Boston who suffer the highest mortality rates in the city. This project will involve medical, nursing and mental health staff in outreach and direct care services on the streets.

The National Center on Family Homelessness, Newton Centre, Mass., Evaluation Center -- $299, 981 -- a collaboration with the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. The Evaluation Center will guide and support the SAMHSA/HRSA project and create and evaluate new models integrating physical and mental health services for homeless people with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: January 16, 2003