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Group offers services to needy
Oakland Tribune, Mar 11, 2007 by Chris De Benedetti
FREMONT -- Dozens of East Bay people with severe mental health issues are about to receive help with one of life's essentials: shelter.
The Tri-City Homeless Coalition will use more than $1.1 million of county funds to provide housing and comprehensive psychiatric services for those dealing with mental ailments, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The money is being administered and disbursed by Behavioral Health Care Services, the mental health department for Alameda County.
"It's really about ending chronic crises for people who are vulnerable by providing housing and meaningful services," said Louis Chicoine, the coalition's executive director.
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He added: "Studies show that if you provide a home, their chances of thriving is really strong. The success rate is 85 percent, according to our data."
Research also shows that using preventive solutions that keep mentally ill people out of "expensive systems" such as jails and hospital emergency rooms is less costly to the overall community, Chicoine said.
The Fremont-based Tri-City Homeless Coalition helps the needy in Hayward, San Leandro and the Tri-Valley and Tri-City areas.
The funding will help about 60 adults and 30 youths over an 18- month period.
For the youth program, called STAY, the coalition will collaborate with the Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland. The program will pay as much as 70 percent of individuals' housing costs, and provide them improved access to medication and psychiatric services.
"We'll also have staff who are peer leaders who have recovered from mental health issues themselves," Chicoine said.
The adults program, called the Greater Hope Project, has similar components. Its housing will be in the Tri-Valley and Tri-City areas, while the STAY project will provide housing for youth around Alameda County, Chicoine said.
Staff writer Chris De Benedetti covers Fremont issues. Contact him at (510) 353-7002 or cdebenedetti@angnewspapers.com.
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