After a successful three-year pilot program, Harvest House recently its Wellness Within Reach program, providing free mental health therapy services in supportive housing or home settings.
The initiative lowers barriers to mental health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and/or trauma in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Harvest House’s program in Sarasota County includes 78% low- or moderate-income residents facing chronic homelessness, addiction, severe trauma, and untreated mental health conditions. Limited access to affordable and geographically accessible mental health services exacerbates instability, perpetuating cycles of homelessness and trauma.
During the pilot program, Harvest House tracked the impact on 126 participants and the results were impressive, including a 100% success rate related to housing stability. There also was a significantly reduced incidence of recidivism for participants who engaged in therapy: women who received therapy had a 0% recidivism rate while men who received therapy had a 14% recidivism rate. These outcomes are much lower than Florida’s average, where more than 60% of people released from prison are rearrested within three years and approximately 25% are reincarcerated.
“The data from our pilot program clearly shows a tremendous reduction in recidivism rate as well as a sharp increase in housing stability, ensuring better outcomes for the individuals engaged in the program and our community as a whole,” Harvest House president and CEO Dan Minor said. “The results from our pilot program have been extraordinary and we are grateful to the funders who are powering the launch and expansion of the Wellness Within Reach program in the coming years.”
Additionally, program organizers found increased community resilience, including a reduction in the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and improved overall health outcomes.
“I’ve never taken care of my mental health. I’ve been through so much trauma and made [so] many poor choices that it created a lifestyle of chaos and confusion,
Harvest House expands Wellness Within Reach mental health program
