Health

Giving People a “Whole New Life”

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The view from his sixth floor apartment in downtown San Diego gives Bruce Smith a different look of the city. Most importantly, having a permanent place to live gives the 53-year-old a different outlook on life.

 

“I’m ecstatic. It’s another prayer being answered,” said Bruce, who moved into his brand new one-bedroom apartment almost two weeks ago. “It’s incredible. I can’t believe I am here.”

The Cedar Gateway apartment complex on the corner of Cedar Street and 5th Avenue officially opened today. The seven-story, burnt-red building consists of 65 multi-family units, including 23 one-bedroom apartments, which are part of the County’s Supportive Housing program. The remaining units will go to low-income families.

The supportive housing units, which will be scattered throughout complex, are specifically designated for people who were homeless or at risk of being homeless and have been diagnosed with a mental illness or substance abuse disorder or both.

Nothing left

After caring for his diabetic mother for several years, Bruce had no place to live after his mother passed away.

He has two sisters but neither will take him in because of his drug and alcohol abuse.

“I’ve been involved in drugs all my life,” said Bruce, who started using pot and LSD at 13. “I was a real (expletive deleted) to my whole family.”

Bruce had nothing but his crystal meth and alcohol addictions. The fear of ending up on the streets terrified him because “I know how homeless people are treated. I used to mistreat them myself.”

He tried to end his life by suicide and had his younger sister not found him, Bruce would not be alive today.

With the help of his older sister, he found himself at the San Diego Rescue Mission, a residential substance abuse treatment program, which he successfully completed. He was referred to the IMPACT Program for Homeless with Serious Mental Illness, a Full Service Partnership operated by the Community Research Foundation. The program serves 225 clients and is funded by the County through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) or Prop. 63.

Bruce was diagnosed with schizophrenia, severe depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. He moved into a sober living home but his internal troubles were not over.

He was contemplating suicide once again, but a knock on the door saved his life.

It was the resident manager delivering a piece of mail; a birthday card from the IMPACT program. He immediately called the County’s Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240 where trained counselors are available seven days per week, 24 hours a day.

“It’s amazing how a small gesture like a birthday card could end up having one of the biggest impacts on one’s life.  I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for that card,” said Bruce

Bruce was ready to receive the help he so desperately needed.

A new life

Through supportive housing, clients receive mental health services including a permanent place to live, medication management, employment services and other social services. Typically, tenants pay 30 percent of the rent and receive a subsidy for the rest from MHSA funds.

“Mental illness is a major cause of homelessness,” said Alfredo Aguirre, Director of County Mental Health Services. “Having a stable place to live gives people hope and is the first step on the road to recovery.”

Of the more than 9,000 homeless people in the region, 25 percent suffer from mental illness.

Studies show that people with mental illness who don’t receive treatment are more often hospitalized or incarcerated, representing a higher cost to taxpayers than community programs that help people with their mental disorder to turn their lives around. 

With five years of sobriety and on medication for his mental illnesses, Bruce feels ready to begin the next chapter of his life. He has started by improving his relationship with his sisters.

“The best thing I ever heard in my life was when my older sister recently told me she was proud of me and that she loves me,” said Bruce, sitting in his bedroom; his medications neatly organized in the dresser next to his bed. “The biggest miracle is going on now. I have a whole new life.”

To learn more about supportive housing, visit the County’s Housing Matters campaign.