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PROJECTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS (PATH)

The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 authorized a federal grant program to deal with the needs of people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. The program - known as Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) - funds community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management and other support services, as well as a limited set of housing services.

In Fiscal Year 2002, the PATH program distributed over $35 million through formula grants to each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories to provide services to people with serious mental illnesses -- including those with co-occurring substance use disorders -- who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The formula is based on the urban population in the jurisdiction compared to the total U.S. urban population, with minimum grants of $300,000 per year to each state. Latest available data indicate that in FY 2002, states engaged 419 local organizations in the provision of services. These organizations reported more than 77,000 enrollments for PATH- supported services.

The PATH program is administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of eight Public Health Service agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

PATH projects involve a broad range of service providers:
The PATH program involves a wide network of state and local agencies that contribute comprehensive community-based services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. PATH providers have succeeded in putting experience and expertise to work to meet the needs of homeless people who have mental illnesses by engaging the services of community mental health centers and other mental health providers, community-based social service agencies, health care providers, and substance abuse service providers.


PATH providers offer a spectrum of critical services:
Local PATH-supported organizations provide a wide range of services to people who are homeless. The majority of PATH providers perform outreach to persons who are homeless offer case management services. In many states, PATH funds are the only dollars available for outreach services within the mental health system. Among the other services eligible for funding under PATH are: · Screening and Diagnostic Services; · Habilitation and Rehabilitation Services; · Community Mental Health Services; · Alcohol or Drug Treatment Services (for people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders); · Primary Health Care Services, job training, education services, and housing. · Supervisory Services in Residential Settings; and · Training for Local Provider Staff to Effectively Assist Persons who are homeless and have mental illness.


PATH providers serve people with mental illnesses who are homeless:

Local PATH-supported agencies reported they delivered services to more than 77,000 people in fiscal year 2002. Who were their clients?

Age: · 31% were adults ages 18-34 · 49% were adults ages 35-49 · 31% were adults ages 50-64

Gender: · 61% of clients were male · 39% of clients were female

Race/Ethnicity: · 54% of clients were White · 33% of clients were African-American · 9% of clients were of other races · 9% of clients were of Hispanic origin

At the time of first contact with PATH providers: · 62% of clients lived on the street or in emergency shelters · 23% of clients lived in private/subsidized housing · 15% of clients lived in institutions, jails, residential treatment programs, or other settings

Persons receiving PATH-funded services have some of the most disabling mental disorders. Among clients for whom a diagnosis was made: · 41% of clients had schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders · 41% of clients had affective disorders such as depression · 18% of clients had personality disorders or other mental disorders · 57% of clients had a co-occurring substance use disorder in addition to a mental illness

PATH program funds stimulate state and local contributions:

PATH funds represent over 33 percent of the total dollar amount earmarked by provider agencies for serving homeless people with mental illnesses. These funds are worth more than their face value because they must be matched by local resources. For every $3 in federal funds, state or local agencies must put forward $I in cash or in-kind services. At a minimum, a $26 million federal allocation would result in a $8.6 million match. However, in FY 2002, states matched over $25 million in local funds against the $35 million federal allocation. In some states, PATH funds and the state and local match are the only commitment of resources targeted to homeless people with serious mental illnesses.

For more information about the PATH program, visit the website: http://www.pathprogram.samhsa.gov/about/overview.asp.


TEXAS PATH CONNECTION: AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION CENTER 717 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 Contact: David Gomez Email: david.gomez@atcmhmr.com Phone: (512) 478-5644 Fax: (512) 495-9717

CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES 711 E. Josephine San Antonio, TX 78208 Contact: Angelina Lopez Phone: (210) 225-5481 Fax: (210) 271-3492

DALLAS METROCARE SERVICES 901 South Ervay Dallas, TX 75201 Contact: Cindy Hurst Email: churst1115@aol.com Phone: (214) 670-5065 Fax: (214) 670-5925

GULF COAST CENTER 1721 Tremont Galveston, TX 77550 Contact: Phyllis McKenzie Email: phyllismck@gcmhmr.com Phone: (409) 763-2373 Fax: (409) 763-5538

BORDER REGIONAL MHMR COMMUNITY CENTER 1500 Papas Laredo, TX 78041 Contact: Julio Murillo Email: juliom@borderregion.org Phone: (956) 794-3287 Fax: (956) 794-3575

LIFE MANAGEMENT CENTER 3410 Morenci El Paso, TX 79903 Contact: Candice Lewis Phone: (915) 562-5898 Fax: (915) 680-8170

SPINDLETOP MHMR SERVICES 2750 S. 8th Street Beaumont, TX 77701 Contact: Cindy Guidry Email: cindy.guidry@stmhmr.org Phone: (409) 839-2251 Fax: (409) 839-2251

LUBBOCK REGIONAL MHMR CENTER P.O. Box 2828 Lubbock, TX 79408-2828 Contact: Mary Gerlach Email: mgerlach@mailbox.lrl.mhmr.state.tx.us Phone: (806)790-5330 Fax: (806)740-1574

MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY 1301 Dennis Street Houston, TX 77002 Contact: Sandra A. Miller Phone: (713) 970-3441 Fax: (713) 970-3308

MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION OF TARRANT COUNTY 1501 B. East El Paso Ft. Worth, TX 76102 Contact: Tony Guinn Phone: (817) 569-4650 Fax: (817) 569-4699

NUECES COUNTY MHMR COMMUNITY CENTER 1630 S. Brownlee Corpus Christi, TX 78404 Contact: Jesus Mendoza Email: jmendoza@ncmhmr.org Phone: (361) 886-6970 Fax: (361) 886-6949

TEXAS PANHANDLE MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY P.O. Box 3250 Amarillo, TX 79116-3250 Contact: Grace Contreras Email: graciela.contreras@tpmhmr.org Phone: (806) 371-7716 Fax: (806) 345-7914

TROPICAL TEXAS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION 4701 South Sugar Rd Edinburg, TX 78539 Contact: Jerome Maxey Email: jmaxey@ttcmhmr.org Phone: (956) 423-8094 ext. 6519 Fax: (956) 364-6555

 
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