Help us open a forever home for men with serious mental illness!

One in 20 people in the United States  lives with a serious mental illness (NIHM)

Thirty-one percent of the homeless population reported having a serious mental illness.
(endhomelessness.org)

Maricopa County has a housing wait list of 4,134 enrolled individuals with SMI (AZ Auditor General Report 2022)

The Problem

The systems in place to support individuals with serious mental illness are not enough. Government funded resources aim to make people with SMI “independent,” which is not possible for many of them. This leads to an endless cycle of hospitalization or imprisonment, temporary housing and homelessness. It is especially difficult for those with SMI who do not have a caregiver to advocate for them.

The Need

Most government funded services are short term care, as the goal is to help people with SMI become independent. Therefore there is a lack of Long-term or permanent shelter options. Independence is a good thing when appropriate, but for many SMI, independence is not attainable. The housing that is available does not provide the care and services needed for SMI to thrive.

Our Vision

We want to create an environment where those with SMI see their value, have a supportive community, are encouraged to find work and can create a stable lives for themselves. The goal is not to send those who become stable out into the world. They need the continued support we intend on providing with a permanent shelter.

Measuring Success and Lifting Expectations

We want to create an environment where those living with SMI see their value, have a supportive community, are encouraged to find work and can create stable lives for themselves. Independence is not always possible, and many need the continued support we intend on providing with a permanent shelter.

Friends & Family

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Serious Mental Illness is an isolating experience. Those living with SMI struggle to build and maintain relationships because of their disability and the cycle of treatment and housing. Moreover, many people are hesitant to interact with those with SMI. When someone gains a level of stability in permanent housing, they are able to build lasting friendships that enrich their lives. The system discourages family intervention and care. We want to help family members connect with and care for their loved ones living with SMI. Having a permanent shelter alleviates some of the burden family members might feel when caring for loved ones and can improve their relationships. Many don’t have family members, they are completely alone and isolated. Our home will give them the opportunity to make their own family.

Employment & Entrepeneurship

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Only 13% of those with schizophrenia are employed in Arizona. Having a purpose is important for every person, and someone living with SMI rarely has the opportunity to find that purpose. Having the stability needed to find and keep a job is vital for those with SMI and their continued growth. They have skills and talents that are unique to them that they can bring into a work setting. We want to empower them that they can work, that they have something to offer, and that having a job is a privilege. Volunteers will work with residents to find jobs that fit their skillset and have a healthy working environment.

Mentorship & Counseling

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Because many men living with SMI have been in an endless cycle of treatment, hospitalization and unhealthy housing environments, they have little to no life skills that are second nature to others. Volunteer mentors will lovingly work with residents to teach and improve life in all areas including managing finances, physical health and wellness, grocery shopping and meal planning and more. Mentors encourage those with SMI that they can build routines and live fulfilling lives despite their disability. 
We all need to process our thoughts and emotions with the help of others sometimes. For someone struggling with SMI this is especially true. They may be battling delusions and voices that overpower their own thoughts. Counseling with certified counselors helps them sort what is true and what is not. Counselors provide encouragement and wisdom that those living with SMI need and desire. Counselors help set goals, evaluate progress, help manage conflicts, help them know how to be a good friend and build friendships and identify areas where growth is still needed.

Faith Community

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Everyone needs a community where they feel valued, belonging and love. Faith is a cornerstone of many people’s lives and is often overlooked when it comes to people living with SMI. For example, “according to one study of outpatients with serious mental illness in Los Angeles, more than 80% reported that they used religion to cope with their illness and 65% indicated that religion helped reduce the severity of their symptoms” Residents are encouraged to build relationships with those around them in a judgment-free environment in a local church. Through our partnership with a local gospel-centered church, P82 offers connection to community, discipleship, opportunities to serve, and most of all, hope.

Arts and Leisure

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Music, art, entertainment and hobbies are something we all take for granted. People living with SMI rarely have access to the arts because they are simply surviving. When their physical, spiritual and emotional needs are met and they gain a level of stability in a permanent home, they are able to enjoy creative things and find hobbies that engage their minds and help them feel grounded.

Join Us!

Our federal and state governments have had over 60 years to build an appropriate safety net for the seriously mentally ill. Instead, they offload the ones who need help the most and are least able to speak for themselves. Do we believe there’s a better way? Absolutely!

Partner with us in Raising Hope! Together, let’s open a home that exists to bring possibility, connection, understanding, and practical support to men who battle against serious mental illness.

This is no small task, but with your help, lives can be changed!

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