Wellness Within Reach offers free in-home or on-campus therapy for people experiencing trauma and other challenges
“After a highly successful three-year pilot program,” Harvest House has announced an Oct. 1 launch of its Wellness Within Reach program, with an expansion of its assistance.
“This initiative provides free mental health therapy services delivered directly in supportive housing or home settings, lowering barriers to mental health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and/or severe trauma in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” a news release explains.
In regard to Harvest House’s targeted demographic in Sarasota County, the release continues, 78% are low- or moderate-income residents facing chronic homelessness, addiction, severe trauma, and untreated mental health conditions.” It adds, “Limited access to affordable and geographically accessible mental health services exacerbates instability, perpetuating cycles of homelessness and trauma.
“During the pilot program,” the release points out, Harvest House tracked its impact on 126 participants, finding the results to be “resoundingly successful.” A success rate of 100% was shown in relation to housing stability, along with “a significantly reduced incidence of recidivism for program participants who engaged in therapy, the release adds: “Women who received therapy had a 0% recidivism rate while men who received therapy had a 14% recidivism rate. These outcomes are much lower than Florida’s average,” the release points out, as more than 60% of people released from prison are re-arrested within three years, and approximately 25% are reincarcerated.
“Additionally, organizers found the program increased community resilience, reduced the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, and improved overall health outcomes within its target populations,” the release notes.
“I’ve never taken care of my mental health. I’ve been through so much trauma and made [so] many poor choices that it created a lifestyle of chaos and confusion,” said a current Harvest House Family Village resident and program participant, in the release. “[Harvest House] has provided me with tools/resources and has assisted me in creating a healthier, clearer mindset in order to help navigate through life and create the lifestyle I envision for myself and my son, so I may be the example for him and provide a better roadmap that [ensures] he does not fall victim to the same path and choices as I made,” the person added in the release.
Thanks to a total of $380,000 from area foundations and government entities — including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Golisano Foundation and Sarasota County HERO Funds — Harvest House will expand the program to reach additional community members, the release says.
“With support from the community, this initiative will expand to offer bi-monthly sessions to 116 individuals” (47 men and 23 women in addiction recovery, 40 adults and children in the Home Again Program, and six in Emergency Housing), totaling 232 therapy sessions each month, the release notes.
Additionally, Harvest House has hired a full-time clinical director to spearhead the program: John Lopez, LMHC, CAP, a certified clinical trauma specialist, the release points out.
“Lopez has been working as a contracted mental health counselor and as director of addiction services with Harvest House since 2017, facilitating a weekly therapy group for the Women’s Freedom program,” the release notes, “as well as providing individual clinical mental health counseling services for approximately 20 clients per week across all Harvest House programs.”
“The data from our pilot program clearly shows a tremendous reduction in recidivism rate, as well as a sharp increase in housing stability, ensuring better outcomes for the individuals engaged in the program and our community as a whole,” said Harvest House President and CEO Dan Minor in the release. “The results from our pilot program have been extraordinary, and we are grateful to the funders who are powering the launch and expansion of the Wellness Within Reach program in the coming years.”
Harvest House will hold an official ribbon-cutting for the program on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m.; contact Katie McCurry at kmccurry@harvesthousecenters.com or 941-914-5950 for more information or to RSVP.
Visit harvesthousecenters.com for more information.
“Harvest House is a local supportive housing and hunger relief provider with 300-plus beds and multiple programs throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties,” the release explains. “Harvest House became a pioneer in the local supportive and affordable housing movement in 1992.”