Project Hope
The mission of Project Hope is to reduce the incidence of homelessness among mentally ill adults, and decrease the concurrent hospitalization, incarceration and poverty rates. The data gathered since the program inception in January of 2001 bears out that these goals are being achieved at a statistically significant level. People in our community who are unemployed, homeless, mentally ill, and have not benefited from County Mental Health services in the past twelve months, are getting help to turn their lives around.
Goodwill Industries provides the employment services and is one of four agencies collectively providing a comprehensive and integrated approach to fulfill the overall goals. Community Support Network, County Mental Health and Buckelew Housing Services are the other partner agencies. As a result of the collaboration of these four organizations, the needs of this population are being served through employment, housing, mental health case management and outreach.
Client Profile
When Mark was first contacted, he was living at the emergency shelter in downtown Santa Rosa . He was found by the outreach staff who routinely search out program candidates by walking the streets and visiting the many homeless encampments in Sonoma County . With a psychiatric disability and a traumatic brain injury, as well as being homeless and unemployed, Mark very quickly qualified for Project Hope and was moved to temporary housing within the program.
In March of 2001, Mark entered the Goodwill Industries Work Experience Program as a service provided under Project Hope. With persistent and supportive job coaching from our staff, he slowly progressed through the program, overcoming obstacles with attendance and productivity. Because of a great positive attitude, he began to overcome personal limitations and was soon noticed for his superior production levels. He was offered an opportunity to become a full time worker in a department store production area. He accepted this position, which resulted in a move toward greater independence and self-reliance.
Mark continues to work in this position and sets the standard for production levels. He recently underwent a change of environment to a different work location. As with the many other changes in his life, he showed superior resilience, flexibility, and consistency and continued to perform his work in his usual efficient manner.
