Stacey Howard has dedicated her life to the assistance of others with housing and mental health needs. Combining the approach of trauma informed care and her experience with working with patients, clients and peers, Howard was recently named the Executive Director of Grace House. Howard recently spoke with Sun staff writer Nikki Rowell about the work of Grace House.
What is Grace House?
“We provide transitional and permanent housing for people who are living with HIV. The permanent housing is both through facility-based housing and rental assistance in the community. We also provide permanent housing for women who are chemically dependent. We help people who have other underlying issues, such as mental illness and other health conditions.”
When was it founded?
“It was incorporated in 1994.”
When did you get involved with the organization?
“I started working here in 2015. I worked with the previous executive director of Grace House on grants as early as 2005.”
What sort of services does the organization offer?
“Housing is our primary focus, but we also have a food pantry where we provide food boxes to people who were referred to us through medical referral. We have case managers on staff that provide an array of supportive services to the people that we work with for housing and rental assistance. We provide transportation to people who are in our facility-based housing to work and doctor appointments and other opportunities for supportive services in the community.
We also provide a lot of other services that are very individual based. Through case management, we try to work with the individual to meet whatever needs they have. We can help them get IDs and get connected with food stamps services and a lot of other services.”
What is Grace House’s annual budget?
“Our annual budget right now is $3.1 million.”
How is it funded?
“Most of that funding is through housing grants. We have two grants directly with Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and we have two other larger grants. One is with the city and the other is with the state. That money originates from HUD as well. It is passed through the state and through the city to Grace House. We are also supported by some area churches and a few foundations.”
How many people benefit from Grace House services each year?
“Typically, we assist between 700 and 800 people annually. We are providing housing assistance to 400 people at any given time.”
Are these homes that Grace House owns? How does that work?
“Some of them. We own five houses in Jackson that we provide housing in, and we also lease properties in the community. Some of them are leased in Grace House’s name, and some are leased in the client’s name and provide rental assistance.”
Can you tell me about the process of how people are connected with Grace House?
“A lot of the referrals that we receive come from medical clinics in the area, but also some come from self referral and some come from referral from other non-profits. If we get a referral and it is a self referral or from a non-profit, then we will assess their connection to medical care and make sure they are receiving what they need on that end. Treatment facilities for chemical dependencies make referrals to us. Other homeless service providers make referrals.”
Can you tell me a bit about the mental and physical health services provided through Grace House? Do you guys partner with area physicians for this portion?
“We work with a lot of organizations that provide those connections when additional services are needed. We house people who have mental health issues, and all of our housing is provided through HUD calls a ‘housing first approach.’
So, people don’t have to have a control of mental illness or control of chemical dependency issues to be provided services at Grace House. We meet people where they are, provide supportive services and try to gently move them toward working on their issues with mental illness or chemical dependency when they are able and willing to do so.”
What about the education and employment pieces? What partnerships make these possible?
“We have had people who have gone to school at Hinds Community College. We are connected with a few GED programs in the area. Really, whatever your educational needs are. That is part of the assessment and case management.
There are several really good programs in the area to connect people, particularly people are impoverished or homeless, to educational opportunities. We will provide transportation for the client to and from school, to and from GED classes. That’s the educational piece.
We work with a lot of employers in the area as well. Plus, our clients, generally we will help them do resumes. We will help them apply to available jobs online. Once they receive employment, we will provide transportation for them back and forth to those opportunities.”
Are the people who receive Grace House services primarily from the Jackson metro, or does Grace House help people across the state?
“We help people across the state. Most of the people are in the Jackson metro area, but we do get some calls from people who are in other parts of the state that have the qualifying medical conditions and don’t have anywhere to stay or are in need of transition housing or ultimately permanent housing assistance.
We also partner with some other housing providers across the state that provide similar services, such as the AIDS Coalition in Hattiesburg. So, we can work with those other services too, so if someone is outside of our service area and closer to the Hattiesburg area, we can get them into housing there.”
It seems that even today, HIV and addiction are still stigmatized. What are some ways you all work toward public awareness and education about these issues?
“Stigma is a big issue for people who are HIV positive or chemically dependent. You know, it is difficult, I think, to navigate those issues in many areas. We work with a lot of other community organizations. We provide information in community forums to people on HIV and chemical dependency issues.
I usually, throughout the year, will have volunteer groups come in from churches and area colleges. We try to make space in the beginning of their volunteer efforts to have some education with the groups of people to provide them with education and to help them understand to eliminate some of the stigma. When you are diagnosed with HIV or chemical dependency issues, there is a lot of internalized stigma as well. So, part of that is working with the clients that we serve to help them become a little more self aware to be more accepting. It’s a grief process really.”
Has Grace House been impacted by COVID-19?
“I think in this current climate with this pandemic has brought with it it’s own set of challenges for our organization, as I’m sure it has for many organizations. Usually, at this time, we are getting ready for our annual fundraiser. But, in good conscience, to maintain public health and safety, we are unable to do that. We’re trying to navigate this new era in fundraising efforts, so that’s been a challenge for sure.”
For those who would like to donate to Grace House, what is the best way to do so?
“It depends what people prefer to do. Our Facebook page is Friends of Grace House, and you can donate there. You can also donate through our website at gracehouse.ms.org. Our mailing address, for those who want to send a check or money order, is P.O. Box 68924 Jackson, Mississippi, 39286.”
"work" - Google News
September 12, 2020 at 09:01PM
https://ift.tt/3hqDOL0
Howard on new work at Grace House - Northside Sun
"work" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bUEaYA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Howard on new work at Grace House - Northside Sun"
Post a Comment