Lisa Pous’ Post

Relink.org wishes to share an article from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Homeless and Housing Resource Center, titled, "Low Barrier Shelter: Policies into Practice". From the article: " Low-barrier shelters aim to provide shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness by using a harm reduction approach and removing or diminishing barriers to entry and continued residency. The model is particularly important for people who use drugs because they are often not served by traditional shelter models. " Here is the link to the article: https://buff.ly/3velEcF Relink.org would like you to know that if you or a loved one are in need of housing or shelter, please visit our website, needs.relink.org, to find the help you need.

Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to care. We can all make a difference in someone's life by learning how to support those considering suicide. Together, we can create a stronger, more compassionate community. samhsa.gov/suicide #SuicidePreventionMonth #workplacementalhealth #HRandSafetyProsUnite  #digitalsafety

Really important for people to see the vital life saving work of services in action.

If you have a child, know a child, or ever were a child, you know how important youth mental health is. In the midst of the nation's largest youth mental health crisis, funding for programs crucial to youth well-being is on the cusp of being cut. If you're in California, you can make a difference. Sign the petition below to to urge Governor Newsom to prioritize funding for youth mental health. #savecaliforniayouth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthmatters

"Just because people experiencing homelessness are no longer visibly experiencing homelessness to the public, [it] doesn't mean that they are not vulnerable anymore or that the issue is solved." Federal Housing Advocate As Summer approaches, the plight of those sleeping rough seems somehow less urgent in public discourse. Many who live without shelter have the most complex mental health and addictions issues and need a housing solution that includes adequate supports including clinical support outreach. Housing support for the most complex must include integrated, adequate and appropriate healthcare and social services. All levels of government must be involved in building these systems. https://lnkd.in/guFThWsp

We’re working with Victorian Department of Health to help co-design a new statewide LGBTIQA+ support service - and you might be able to help! Please also share if relevant to your networks. We’re seeking feedback on the draft service model from: 💬 LGBTIQA+ individuals with lived and living experience of suicidal distress family members 🤝 carers and supporters of LGBTIQA+ individuals who have experienced suicidal distress and those who have been bereaved by suicide service providers 🏥 people who work at organisations that provide suicide prevention, response and bereavement support to LGBTIQA+ individuals and their family members, carers and supporters. For more information about the project and how you can take part, head to bit.ly/aftercarecodesign. Please note, contributions on the platform will not be paid. We strongly encourage young people, folks living in rural and regional areas, folks who identify as multicultural or multifaith or BIPOC, First Nations folks to contribute their perspectives. This research deals with suicidal distress, suicide prevention and response and bereavement by suicide. Please consider if participating in this project is right for your wellbeing. 💜

La County is full of heart forward programs and CBO’s serving our homeless brothers and sisters on the street. But they’re still unsustainable, heavily reliant on donations. One thing I’ve learned recently is that street medicine providers can be eligible for Medi-Cal managed care payment (which offers rates too low to cover costs), eligible for enhanced care management (key but insufficient), yet not able to secure county mental health or substance use payer contracts where the necessary sustainable funding is. Today the rates counties offer could solve this issue IF the funding were distributed to all providers who would serve equally. (I've reached out about it in LA and gotten no response.) This is inherently inequitable. The work highlighted here is brilliant and we need more, not less of it Shayan Rab, Gary Tsai, MD, Palav Babaria, Tyler Sadwith, Stephanie Welch, and Lisa Wong. We all need to work together - engaging across federal, state, and county officials, county BH and managed care plans, and physical and behavioral health providers - to justly grow the pool of funds for those who serve on our streets. We’ve done it for housing first funding (BHSA fingers crossed!) which is clearly Step 1 of 2 per Margot Kushel MD's work (https://lnkd.in/g7wsie6h). Now we need blended and braided funds for mental illness and addiction treatment that meet every Medi-Cal member where they actually are. In a sustainable, growable manner. If not, we will continue to be judged as the richest and poorest state in the union. A place where only if you have power or money, you can serve. And in the end, the human beings with untreated illness in our streets are the ones who actually suffer. #mentalhealthishealth. Addressing #homelessness requires equitably paid #substanceusetreatment and #mentalillness care for all providers.

We're shedding light on a critical issue facing California, sourced from The New York Times. California's Proposition 1 is pivotal in tackling the state's homelessness crisis. With over 181,000 homeless individuals, comprising more than a quarter of the nation's homeless population, urgent action is needed. This measure, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to expand treatment centers and supportive housing, potentially providing a lifeline for those grappling with mental illness and addiction. Despite initial indications of overwhelming support, Proposition 1 is currently hanging on by a narrow margin, with just 50.5 percent of the vote. This close contest reflects concerns ranging from fears of involuntary treatment to fiscal considerations amidst existing budget constraints. However, with millions of ballots yet to be counted, the final outcome remains uncertain. As advocates for mental health and homelessness support, let's continue to champion comprehensive solutions and prioritize the well-being of our communities. Together, we can work towards a brighter, more inclusive future for California. #Proposition1 #Homelessness #MentalHealthAwareness #CaliforniaCommunity #BLHF

MCM Sleep at the ‘G is an event that helps individuals like resilient 21-year-old Ben, who has faced significant challenges while navigating a life overshadowed by family violence, as well as drug and alcohol misuse. Ben found himself couch surfing and rough sleeping, trapped in a cycle of adversity and disadvantage. His interactions with staff at MCM Frontyard Youth Services became a turning point as he began opening up about his struggles and the profound impact of trauma on his mental health and overall wellbeing. A safe place to sleep, even if for 6 to 8 weeks, represents a significant positive step for individuals like Ben. It offers a sense of security and stability, vital for trauma survivors and foundational for building a more secure future. At Frontyard, Ben found a compassionate community that understood his struggles and individual needs. Ben’s story underscores the importance of comprehensive support systems, addressing immediate needs and providing a holistic approach to long-term recovery. Your support can help sustain this crucial work, providing shelter and access to essential resources—hygiene, healthcare, healthy meals—and, more importantly, the support and guidance needed to rebuild lives. Together we have the power to end youth homelessness - register for MCM Sleep at the ‘G today at SleepAtTheG.com.au. #MCMSleepAtTheG #YouthHomelessness #Homelessness

On any given night in Australia, 122,494 people are experiencing homelessness. Having a place to call home is foundational to good mental health and wellbeing. Over the past decade, research has consistently shown that people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness were more likely to report having experience with mental ill-health and alcohol and other drugs. The Commission works with a broad range of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, housing and homelessness service providers, and people with lived-living experience, to explore ways to better support people to establish and maintain long term housing. This includes advocating for more supportive housing options to ensure Queenslanders experiencing housing distress have a place to call home and the support they need. This Homelessness Week, take a minute to find out more. https://hubs.ly/Q02KxHwT0 You can also find out more about the Commission's work here: https://hubs.ly/Q02KxKx50 #HW2024 #HomelessnessWeek2024 #Homelessness