Greater HOPE (Homeless Outreach and People Empowerment)
The Greater HOPE Full Service Partnership (FSP) is an innovative, community mental health program that grew out of the Mental Health Service Act (Prop. 63). In partnership with Alameda County Behavioral Healthcare Service, Greater HOPE is helping to transform mental health services in Alameda County and transform the lives of the people it serves.
Greater HOPE engages homeless people through street outreach and through the HOPE Project Mobile Health Clinic. Once engaged, the program offers housing, intensive wrap-around service coordination, medication management, counseling, educational/vocational support, recreational opportunities, and peer mentoring.
The Greater HOPE team is a multi-disciplinary and multi-talented group of people who work in creative ways to support people diagnosed with a psychiatric disability rekindle hope, find their passion, and live their lives to the fullest. It is our mission to empower homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities to recognize their potential and responsibility to become creators of their own lives.
Tommy, a Greater HOPE participant, had a psychiatric disability further complicated by substance abuse issues. His addictions led him to prison and homelessness. Eventually, after being diagnosed and receiving proper treatment for his disabilities, Tommy and his girlfriend both entered Greater HOPE in 2008. He says, “From then on, our lives have changed due to the help of this unique and wonderful program. Greater HOPE provided us with affordable housing, vocational opportunities and educational opportunities and so much more. We are now both attending Chabot College and we have a decent lifestyle.” Tommy and Angel credit the program staff with providing the emotional support and encouragement they so desperately needed. Tommy says, “I think that I am becoming a regular person for the first time in my life. There is no greater hope than Greater HOPE!”
Greater HOPE serves chronically homeless single adults, between the ages of 18 and 59 years of age and who meet the following criteria:
- Are diagnosed with a psychiatric disability,
- Currently homeless in the Tri-Valley (Livermore or Pleasanton) or Tri-City (Fremont, Newark or Union City) area and want to receive housing and services in one of those areas,
- Are homeless and have been for at least a year or who have been homeless 3 or more times in the past in 4 years, and
- Who desire to work with an intensive service team to gain housing, to become reconnected with work, education, and their community, and to achieve their life goals.