There are many paths to homelessness. The stories are as varied as the faces along the journey. However, the stories of the most chronically homeless frequently share a common, debilitating detail—untreated mental health issues. In Brown County, it takes an average of 60 days for individuals without insurance to be seen by a professional capable of prescribing medication therapy. The problem is further compounded by issues of access. Without a support system to provide encouragement and reliable transportation to get them to appointments, basic mental healthcare for homeless individuals has been fragmented at best, making the road to self sufficiency a more difficult process.
More than a year ago, several local non-profits formed a partnership to address the problems facing individuals in local homeless and domestic abuse shelters who struggle with mental illness. The MORE Program is a mental health network bringing medication management, therapy services and mental health education directly to key shelter and clinic sites throughout Green Bay. The MORE Program used its first year of Basic Needs Giving Partnership Funding to hire a mental health therapist, educate staff at local homeless shelters, and begin a therapy network across the various partners.
This is the second year of funding for the MORE program through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership. This year's $100,000 grant will fund ongoing operations of the program, including the salary of a medical professional who will prescribe and administer medication to those with the greatest mental health needs.
The collaborative partners include: