CaringWorks, one of the largest providers of supportive housing in the metropolitan Atlanta area, was named a recipient of a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant of nearly $1 million over two years funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement (CRRS) Act of 2021. The grant program enables Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) like CaringWorks to more effectively address the needs of individuals who have a serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), as well as individuals with SED or SMI and substance use disorders, referred to as a co-occurring disorder (COD).

“The federal funds CaringWorks is receiving will go a long way in helping to provide vital mental health services for the underserved homeless population in the Metro Atlanta communities we serve,” said CaringWorks CEO Carol Collard. “Homelessness has a ripple effect throughout communities, impacting the availability of healthcare resources, crime and safety, the workforce and the use of tax dollars. Comprehensive programs such as CaringWorks produce contributing members of society that improve the community for everyone.”

In 2012, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) estimated chronic homelessness costs about $40,000 a year per person. Compared to the average annual cost of $15,055 to provide support for a CaringWorks resident, it is clear to see that ending homelessness makes business sense for our communities. Furthermore, because CaringWorks provides access to services that foster dignity, self-sufficiency, and well-being, including access to mental and behavioral health services, CaringWorks residents work, pay taxes, rent apartments, purchase groceries, volunteer, and join faith-based organizations. Over 90% of CaringWorks residents are still housed one year after joining the program.

“Every American deserves access to behavioral health services in the communities where they live, and we recognize the urgent need to bolster those services for minority populations and those living in economically disadvantaged communities,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the U.S. HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our ability to ensure timely access to treatment services and recovery supports. This funding will help CMHCs address local needs, which have become even more urgent in the past year.”