The Daily Planet’s Safe Haven program serves severely mentally ill or dually diagnosed homeless men and women. This particular subpopulation is not served by other programs because of their complex needs and frequent resistance to both mental health and or homeless services. They suffer from major mental illnesses, most commonly schizophrenia, major affective disorders and severe personality disorders. Substance abuse and mental illness are often co-occurring. Safe Haven’s statistics indicate that almost nine out of 10 Safe Haven participants have substance abuse issues. Since mental illness and chemical dependency are chronic health conditions with a high incidence of relapse, these individuals have greater difficulty with stabilization and recovery. These participants tend to have poor employment histories, deficits in basic living skills and education, low self-esteem and extreme vulnerability to stress. Additionally, they are disconnected from families and support systems, prone to behavior that compromises participation in traditional helping institutions and are often unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services.

 

Safe Haven also reaches out to those individuals who are unsuccessful in following through the referral process or those who drop out of the program by encouraging them to visit and by extending whatever immediate assistance that can be given to them although they are not in the program. It is a Safe Haven policy that any eligible referral or anyone who has been a resident can drop in for a visit, a meal or assistance with a problem.

 

The program has three phases and a comprehensive service plan is made with each participant for each phase. In the service plan the following areas are addressed: mental health, substance abuse, medical issues, housing, livelihood, life skills and social support. An assessment of the participant is made in each of these areas, then with the participant objectives and action plans are made with time frames and reviews to make sure there is adequate follow through. Each case is reviewed bi-weekly in a staffing with the psychiatrist, social worker, residential counselor and director. Case managers from collaborating agencies who are working with the residents are invited to participate in the staffing.

 

The residential counselor and resident assistants work daily with residents on improving their life skills for independent living. In addition to individual counseling, there are weekly therapy and sobriety maintenance group meetings. Training in skills of daily living, money management, medication management, interpersonal skills and conflict resolution are provided. Participants are assisted in reducing and or managing the symptoms of mental illness and maintaining sobriety. Each participant is assigned to a residential assistant for one-on-one coaching with personal hygiene, grooming, housekeeping, nutrition and meal preparation. The social worker assists participants with applications for benefits and follows up on those applications. Those who might be able to work are referred to the Department of Rehabilitative Services or are assisted to find employment. Participants learn how to budget their income and are required to save a portion of whatever income they receive while in the program.

 

Participants in the program reside in a recently constructed 20-bed facility, 2 persons to a room. The 6,700 square-foot facility includes bedrooms, baths, offices, a kitchen and dinning area, a meeting room, and a laundry and recreational area. The Safe Haven facility is located in South Richmond in a residential community off Hull Street. Medical and other services not provided on site are easily accessible by bus.

 

In keeping with the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act that provided for the creation of Safe Havens, eligible persons may reside in Safe Haven for an unspecified duration. This is one of the unique features of Safe Haven. However the program can be completed in six to eight months. A few participants stay a year or longer. Flexibility and an individualized approach are key features of the program.