Some of the work that Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services does, helps people experiencing homelessness. One of our programs, PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness), focuses on outreach. Staff work with area shelters and go directly into the community to find homeless individuals and connect them to mental health services and other supports such as housing. PATH has teams in both Hamilton and Clermont counties. And although the teams address many of the same needs, staff are quick to point out some differences, particularly in the rural communities, as served by the Clermont team.
Alex Bolt, originally served on the Hamilton County PATH team and then transferred to Clermont a little over a year ago. "It's the same in that we both serve the homeless population, and we connect people experiencing homelessness to services, but it just looks so different. In a rural setting you have to build trust. Some of the most chronic individuals, the ones who are the most vulnerable...it can take months before they will get assessed for services because of the stigma attached to mental health."
According to Lee Ann Watson, the Executive Director of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, the county launched PATH services in 2017. "There were conversations with OHMAS (the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services), but the funding wasn't there. It took almost 10 years but by 2017 we combined resources with the Hamilton County team and were able to hire a mental health worker."
Fast forward to April of this year when the team was able to add an SUD specialist. Jo Parmer filled the position. What made her want to be a part of PATH? "A family member got caught up in addiction and was homeless for two years. I was the one who helped get him into a program and then brought him to GCBHS for outpatient treatment. I learned how to do it this kind of work by helping him," she says.
Alex and Jo work together much of the time. Says Jo, "About 75% of our clients have a dual diagnosis - meaning they have both a mental health diagnosis as well as SUD." The women meet up in the morning and many times go out together especially when looking for people who may be sleeping in the woods. "Alex has been doing this longer than me," says Jo, "and she knows where to go for resources that I am still learning about."
One of those resources is Inter Parish Ministry (IPM) which makes food backpacks with items that Jo can pick up for clients. "They are filled with items that don't have to be refrigerated or cooked since my clients do not have access to a kitchen or even a microwave."
The two women carry food, sleeping bags, and blankets to people who need them. "We do whatever we can until we can connect them to services, like housing, and counseling for mental illness and substance use disorder. A lot of people don't have health care, and I help get them connected to Medicaid and food stamps – we do it right from my car. And when it's really cold, it gives them a chance to get warm, at least for a little while."
The PATH team in Clermont believes there are a lot more people who are not housed than the numbers sometimes portray. Ms. Watson agrees with them, "People are couch surfing and living in the woods so you do not always see them the same way you would in a larger city." Jo and Alex say they are seeing an increase in the number of senior citizens experiencing homelessness. "Higher rents are causing seniors to lose their housing. They are older and it's harder," says Jo. "It's so sad."
"It's also hard when you run into a family with little children", says Alex. "You would not believe the number of children who live in cars with their parents. There are times I've seen children standing outside with their family and all their belongings with no place to go." At the present time Clermont does not have a walk-in shelter available and Alex says many of the people she encounters are afraid to go downtown especially if it's a family unit that is afraid to be separated. Plus, some shelters in Hamilton County will not accept residents of another county. She sighs, "It's complicated."
Housing may be the biggest barrier but according to Lee Ann Watson from the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, things are starting to move in the right direction. "We are working with New Housing Ohio and hopefully, in late spring or early summer, will begin to build housing for people who have a severe mental illness." She says this is just the first step. "When I assumed the role of Executive Director in 2022, one of my areas of focus was housing. We have formed a homeless coalition in Clermont County to continue to move forward and address this issue."
In the meantime, Alex and Jo will continue to do what they can. It's an incredibly hard job but Lee Ann says they are making a difference, "If you look at the data, they are bringing people into services who probably wouldn't have sought help before. Outreach is vital in rural communities because of the stigma and the lack of transportation, which makes what they do even more important." Jo thinks what they do matters because they are helping, "the people go unnoticed, and are uncared for. We all need and want the same things but some of us get left behind. We're trying to make sure they don't."
Make a donation and support the work being done to help people who struggle with homelessness HERE.
