August 7, 2015
Community Counseling of Bristol County (CCBC) received notification that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded the agency a three year grant through the Grants to Benefit Homeless Individuals-Services in Supportive Housing (GBHI-SSH) program. CCBC is a comprehensive behavioral health center based in Taunton, serving over 12,000 clients annually, with offices also in Attleboro, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford and Plymouth.
CCBC received the support of both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) in the development of the SAMHSA application and representatives from both agencies, along with other key stakeholders focused on ending homelessness in Southeastern Massachusetts, will participate on an Advisory Committee to support the successful delivery of the project.
The project “Safe Harbor,” will be a program open to homeless veterans and chronically homeless individuals in southeastern Massachusetts who struggle with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The goals are stable housing and improved health, mental health, safety, and self-sufficiency incorporating medical and behavioral health care and social need case management. CCBC will employ a “Housing First” model to help individuals secure and retain permanent rental housing quickly and without time limits. Many programs require individuals with a substance use disorder to be in treatment first, or to remain substance free to maintain their housing. The “Housing First” model focuses on finding the individual housing without any requirements tied to having a permanent place to call home.
The goal of the Safe Harbor program is to decrease the number of homeless and chronically homeless veterans and non-veterans in our service area by achieving these measurable objectives: (1) Increase the number who are engaged in recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders; (2) Increase the number who are in safe and supportive housing that supports their recovery; (3) Increase the number who are gainfully employed and/or pursuing training and education to support gainful employment; and (4) Increase the number who have social support systems.
Safe Harbor will serve approximately 35 clients annually and 120 over the life of the project by providing integrated and evidence-based services, including: (1) Permanent Supportive Housing using a Housing First approach and case management services to help clients access supports, including health insurance, health and social services, education, and employment resources; (2) Screening and assessment for substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders; (3) Behavioral health treatment, including the "Seeking Safety " model which will be offered to all participants to address trauma and co-occurring substance use; and (4) Peer Support to provide guidance, support, empowerment, and hope from a trained peer counselor who has struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues and who is now successful in recovery.
The program will begin on September 30, 2015 and is funded for three years at $327,314 per year to operate through 2018. For more information please contact Ellen Bruder-Moore, Vice President of Housing and Community Initiatives at CCBC by phone at 508-977-8123 or email at ebruder-moore@comcounseling.org.