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Comprehensive Day Services for
Chronically Homeless Men & Women
Who
We Serve
Why There Is A Need
The Program
Our Successes
Our Location
How You Can Help
Contact the Program
| Who We Serve |
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Project Trust targets chronically homeless men and women. Many clients suffer from substance abuse or mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or have co-occurring disorders. All have refused, or are unable, to participate in treatment programs or complete the documentation that would make them eligible for housing and other services provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
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Why
There Is A Need
Project Trust provides a safe haven for homeless men and women who do not live in traditional shelters and provides them with an alternative to congregating in the streets, library, parking lots and malls of White Plains.
| The Program |
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Project Trust, an outreach day services program provides meals, clean clothing, laundry facilities, computer access and counseling for up to 50 chronically homeless men and women daily. The program operates in partnership with the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH). At Project Trust, the homeless can receive counseling services from mental health professionals, get a clean change of clothing and receive bus tokens or assistance |
in the job application process. They can also take advantage of services provided at the nearby Open Arms Men’s Shelter. There, they can eat a nutritious breakfast and dinner and do their laundry. Lunch is available at the GCCC Soup Kitchen.
Project Trust services are available from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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One of Project Trust’s primary objectives is to pair individuals with case managers who can connect them to appropriate mental health or substance abuse services and help them find housing and employment. To accomplish this, Project Trust has partnered with two other providers, the Westchester County DCMH Homeless Outreach Team and CHOICE (Consumers Helping Others in a Caring Environment), a peer directed and staffed nonprofit agency that provides direct client services and outreach alongside Project Trust staff.
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Five-year funding for Project Trust is being provided by the federal government Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Our Successes
Up to 50 men and women seek assistance from Project Trust every day. The program has assisted thousands of individuals from this very hard to reach population and has been very successful where other approaches have failed.
Some Case Histories
Larry, a 40 year old Marine Corps veteran with a long history of mental illness, substance abuse and incarceration had been homeless for more than 4 years when he made his way to Project Trust. Larry had stopped taking his medications because he was experiencing side effects and, subsequently, had become volatile and violent. He was persuaded to enter into the Westchester Behavioral Center, a psychiatric treatment center, for four months and is now living in an apartment in Spring Valley. Larry’s mother recently traveled by bus from Pennsylvania to personally thank Project Trust staff for helping her son.
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Jake was dropped off at Project Trust after a short incarceration in a New Jersey prison. His goal was to move to Florida so staff helped him find a job at a local CVS and held his earnings for him, giving him only what he needed for basic necessities, until he saved up the money he needed. Recently, Project Trust received a postcard from Jake thanking them for helping him turn his life around and informing them that he had been hired as a Supervisor for a CVS store in his new hometown.
Ben was an 18 year old high school drop out who had had several small altercations with the law and was a heavy marijuana user. With the help of Project Trust, he entered into a vocational training program for youth aged 16-20 who had not completed high school. He subsequently enrolled in a liberal arts program at Mercy College where he has maintained a 3.0 grade point average.
Keisha, a young woman in her twenties, was adamant about staying out of the DSS system because she wanted to maintain full control over her money (DSS takes 90% of a client’s social security income as a contribution to the cost of providing shelter care). With help from Project Trust she was able to find a job at Target and, using the phone at Project Trust, was able to locate an affordable apartment that she now shares with a friend.
Maria, a double amputee and diabetic with two daughters aged 19 and 23, had been evicted from her apartment. Project Trust provided a range of services for the family, finding them an apartment in Yonkers, arranging for transportation and helping the eldest daughter to find a job. Talia, the youngest daughter, now comes to Project Trust several days a week to help with cooking, getting supplies and various other odd jobs. This is her way of saying thank you. |
Our
Location
Project Trust is located at 96 East Post Road, White Plains, NY
The facility is just two doors down from the GCCC Open Arms men’s shelter
How
You Can Help
Project Trust clients are encouraged to seek employment. To ensure that they look presentable for interviews a clothing cupboard with suits, dress shirts, ties and shoes is being set up. Donations to the cupboard are welcome. All clothing must be in good, clean condition.
Donations of new underwear, socks, pajamas, winter scarves, gloves, hats and toiletries are also appreciated.
Contact
the Program
Team Leader: Emilio Acosta
Phone: (914) 948-5044
E-mail: eacosta@gcccares.org
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