CPC awarded federal grant to serve homeless veterans

Community Psychiatric Clinic (CPC), a non-profit behavioral healthcare organization serving Seattle and King County, has been awarded a five-year grant from the U.S Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for Project THRIVE. This was a very competitive grant process nationally, with only thirty-three grants awarded by SAMHSA for the development of comprehensive drug/alcohol and mental health treatment services for persons who are homeless.

Project THRIVE, standing for Treatment, Housing, Resources and Interventions for Veterans Empowerment, will create a new service continuum for homeless veterans, including a new veteran's resource center and services in supported housing for homeless veterans with dual disorders of mental illness and chemical dependency.

There is a significant unmet need for services for homeless veterans in King County, particularly those with dual disorders. According to the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, there are approximately 2,000 homeless veterans in King County. Over the life of the grant, it is estimated that 380 unduplicated homeless veterans will be engaged into services, 275 will receive resource center services, and 105 will receive services in supported housing. CPC will be providing 45 units of supported housing initially for the project and also plans to construct a new housing facility for homeless vets by the end of year three of the grant period.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer this new resource for veterans in King County," says Shirley Havenga, Chief Executive Officer of Community Psychiatric Clinic. "Project THRIVE will help to fill a gap in services for these men and women, who have served our country honorably."

To create this new resource, CPC has partnered with multiple public and private organizations, including the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, The Federal Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health System, King County Mental Health Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division, King County Department of Community and Human Services, Shoreline Community College, Vets Edge, YWCA, NAMI Greater Seattle, Evergreen Treatment Services and ElderHealth NW.