This story is taken from Arden/Carmichael at sacbee.com.
Turning Point, a community service organization designed to help mentally ill people, is in the final stages of transforming the once-tattered apartment house near Bell and Edison avenues.
When complete, the brightly colored complex will provide a permanent place to stay in 10 apartments for people with psychiatric disabilities who were formerly homeless.
"We are very proud of it," said John Buck, Turning Point's chief executive officer.
The Fairview Apartments on Fairview Court are scheduled to open June 21.
The California Department of Mental Health states on its Web site that recent estimates indicate there are 300,000 homeless people in the state, including 50,000 with serious mental illness.
Housing for the mentally ill has been an issue since California closed most of the state's mental hospitals about three decades ago.
The Fairview Apartments will be permanent housing.
"It is not transitional," Buck said. "We have found that permanent housing works best for folks. To have to move after two or three months just further disrupts people who are struggling with psychiatric issues."
If some tenants later choose to move, Turning Point will continue to help them, provided they stay in the Sacramento area.
Doug Harding, a 20-year Turning Point board member, was excited about how the new complex will help people.
"Getting into a house gives them such a terrific anchoring," Harding said. "They can really start to rebuild their lives."
Sacramento County Mental Health Services funded $880,000 of the $2.3 million cost to purchase and rehabilitate the complex. A long-term construction loan, which will be paid off with rents, also was obtained.
Tenants of the renovated Fairview Apartments will receive a subsidy so that they only pay a percentage of the rent based on their income.
Once complete, the complex will house nine single adults and one couple. One of the formerly homeless persons will serve as the apartment house manager.
The apartment house was a mess before Turning Point began rehabilitation, Buck said.
One unit had nine dogs living inside - the odor was overwhelming, Buck said. There also was water damage from an overflowing tub and mold due to poor lot drainage.
Today, some mentally ill persons live in alleys and along rivers. Buck said affordable housing is one of the biggest obstacles to their recovery. Food, clothing and shelter are basic needs, he said.
"A lot of the folks are struggling because they can't afford first month's rent," he said. "They may have no credit or poor credit. So they are homeless. When you are homeless, it's hard to get a job."
And without a home, it's hard to follow through with treatment appointments, he said.
Turning Point's overall Homeless Intervention Program works to get homeless mentally ill adults off the street and into housing.
HIP provides housing to 140 adults through Turning Point subleases and month-to-month arrangements.
HIP also provides psychiatric care, job training, employment, addiction and mental health counseling and case management.
Turning Point Community Programs has other programs in addition to those tailored to the homeless. The programs provide psychiatric services, support and advocacy for adults, youths and families.
More information is available at http://www.tpcp.org/ or by calling (916) 364-8395.
About the writer:
- The Bee's Bill Lindelof can be reached at (916) 321-1079 or blindelof@sacbee.com.
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