Mental Health Services success story

The following is a story about a consumer from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless by helping them live independently in the community.

Mr. W came to Volunteers of America having no contact with any of his relatives. He now believes that the support he receives from our staff helps him to fill this void. With Volunteers of America's help, he successfully obtained an Automotive Technology certificate from Delgado Community College. Mr. W desired to continue his education and re-enrolled at Delgado to obtain an associate's degree. After his car broke down, Volunteers of America helped Mr. W find an apartment closer to campus - he had been commuting from the Westbank to City Park.

Recently, through a partnership between Volunteers of America, Unity for the Homeless, and the Housing Authority of New Orleans, Mr. W was able to secure a Section 8 housing voucher, which has allowed him to continue his path towards independence. This was a great accomplishment for Mr. W and a fine example of how the services Volunteers of America offers can equip individuals to make the best out of the hands they have been dealt.

Mr. B's story

The following is a story about an individual who receives services from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless by helping them live independently in the community.

Mr. B started receiving services from Volunteers of America in August of 2006. He sought stability; he'd lost his home and all of his possessions after Hurricane Katrina hit. The relative with whom he was living at the time could no longer able accommodate Mr. B, his spouse, and their four sons.

Compounding this was a history of mental health illness. Mr. B suffered from depression, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Despite this, Mr. B expressed his desire to become stable again and to be a healthy and caring father to his family. The road to recovery was difficult, however - Mr. B was hospitalized after not taking his medications properly, which affected his relationship with his family. Mr. B's wife made several calls expressing her frustration at her husband's behavior.

Mr. B realized that the only way to achieve the stability he sought was to comply with proper medication intake. Since then, he has been receiving injections once a month. This has had a dramatic effect on his behavior - he has returned to taking courses at school daily and will soon be testing for his GED.

After obtaining his GED, Mr. B plans to further his education by enrolling in college to study business. He would like to open a convenience store with his wife.

Mr. B has moved into new housing and reports that his relationship with his family has improved.

Mr. A's story

The following is a story from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless to live independently in the community.

Mr. A lived without a home for over 5 yrs. In April 2009, he was enrolled in our PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program, which addresses the needs of individuals that are homeless, mentally ill, and substance abusers. PATH provides outreach case managers and workers an opportunity to search for homeless individuals throughout the streets of New Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parish.

The Outreach Team met with Mr. A and began talking to him, attempting to build a relationship. During the first several meetings, Mr. A was very shy and quiet, not giving too much information. However, through repeated contact and persuasion, he began talking with staff and befriended them. Mr. A discussed the death of his mother and family members who tried to take advantage of him for his money. Mr. A also revealed he was depressed. Staff referred him to a behavioral health clinic.

Mr. A began treatment and became stable on his medication. He was then referred to our PATH Outreach Case Manager, Ms. Marlene Chandler, to help him with housing and employment. Shortly after being accepted into our Case Management Program, Mr. A was housed in the Algiers area and was able to obtain a job with Burger King. Currently, Mr. A is living independently and continues to work different jobs to maintain his independence.

Volunteers of America Staff Featured in WWL and Times-Picayune articles

Click here to read a piece from WWL about New Orleans' mental health delivery system post-Katrina, featuring Rebecca Thees, our Coordinator of Disaster Related Services.

Click here to read a piece from the Times-Picayune about mental health issues in post-Katrina New Orleans, also featuring Rebecca Thees.