Mental Health

Crisis Intervention Hotline | Crisis Intervention Mobile | Diversion & Stabilization
 Permanent Supportive Housing | Shared Housing | Housing Assistance Program

Mental Health Crisis Intervention Hotline

1-800-836-6010

The Crisis Hotline operates 365 days a year and is answered 24- hours a day, seven days a week.  Trained counselors assist persons in crisis, responding to a variety of calls ranging from depression, suicide, and other mental health issues to financial issues. The hotline crisis counselors also assist mental health consumers with community resources and support.

Those experiencing a crisis, or know someone who is, can call 1-800-836-6010 for help.

Mental Health Crisis Intervention Mobile Program

The Crisis Intervention Mobile Program provides face-to-face intervention during crisis situations.  The Mobile Team assists those in crisis in a variety of situations, addressing such issues as suicidal and homicidal ideation, uncontrollable family members, and poor medication management. This service is an expansion of the Mental Health Crisis Hotline and assists persons needing immediate assistance. Those experiencing a crisis, or know someone who is, are encouraged to call the crisis hotline at 1-800-836-6010 for immediate assistance.  The Mental Health Crisis Intervention Mobile Program serves Westmoreland County.

Diversion and Stabilization Unit (D&SU)

The Diversion and Stabilization Unit Program is an 8- bed residential facility that provides short-term, 24-hour a day supervised respite accommodations, crisis stabilization services, and counseling for persons in the public mental health system, ages 18 years and up.  Services include assessments, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, therapeutic recreational activities, and medication monitoring.  Referrals to D&SU are made by community mental health agencies, social service organizations and the Mobile Crisis Unit.  For additional information, please contact D&SU at (724) 552-0305 ext. 230.

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Permanent Supportive Housing

Pathways Permanent Supportive Housing Program is designed to assist chronically homeless, mental health consumers in securing housing. The Permanent Supportive Housing apartment building is located on Humphrey Road in Greensburg and has nine furnished apartments.  Persons interested in the Program must apply for and be eligible for a HUD voucher.  Permanent Supportive Housing aims to provide low- cost housing to mental health consumers in Westmoreland County, as well as, assistance through Housing Supports. For additional information, please contact Permanent Supportive Housing at (724) 552-0305 ext. 281.

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Shared Housing

The Shared Housing Program is designed to assist mental health consumers in securing housing.  Unlike the Permanent Supportive Housing criteria, mental health consumers interested in the Shared Housing Program do not have to be chronically homeless.  Also, the Shared Housing Program consists of 2-3 tenants living in the same home, rather than living in their own apartment. Each tenant has their own bedroom, treating the other  rooms in the home as common areas.  Currently, there are 2 Shared Housing homes, both located in Mt. Pleasant.  One home is for males and the other home is for females.  Referrals can be made by self-referral or local mental health and/ or community agencies.  For additional information, please contact Shared Housing at (724) 552-0305 ext. 281.

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Housing Assistance Program

The Westmoreland County Behavioral Health & Developmental Services Housing Assistance Program is collaboration between Westmoreland Community Action, Westmoreland County Behavioral Health & Developmental Services Program, and Health Choices Reinvestment Funds.

The goal of the program is to help individuals with a Behavioral Health & Developmental diagnosis in finding stable housing, as well as providing financial assistance.

At any given time, roughly 25 to 30 percent of Westmoreland County residents with Behavioral Health & Developmental diagnosis are in need of some type of housing and financial assistance. Adults with Behavioral Health & Developmental diagnosis face challenges in finding safe, affordable, permanent supportive housing.  These individuals have to overcome barriers such as poverty, stigma, and finding appropriate resources and support systems.  The Westmoreland County Behavioral Health & Developmental Housing Assistance Program hopes to alleviate some of the burdens these individuals face.

The Behavioral Health & Developmental Services Housing Assistance Program will assist eligible adults with mental illness, co-occurring disorders and other special needs populations, who are in need of locating housing, rental subsidy or other financial supports to secure and/or maintain stable housing.

Individuals with a Behavioral Health & Developmental diagnosis may lack the ability to identify and locate appropriate and affordable housing.  Traditionally, these services have been provided to individuals via residential programs.  The Behavioral Health & Developmental Services Housing Assistance Program Coordinator will be the one-stop resource that helps applicants with expedited referrals and assistance to housing.  The Housing Assistance Coordinator will help individuals move toward self-sufficiency by providing safe, decent affordable housing options.

Eligible individuals will work with the Housing Assistance Program Coordinator to determine their specific needs.  The Specialist will link provider resources, assess the appropriateness for financial assistance, gather resources and develop a clearinghouse database.

Funds available for eligible applicants include:

• Rental Subsidy (rent & utilities)
• Contingency Funds (security deposit, utility deposit, necessary household items, essential furnishings)

Eligibility requirements:

•  Have an AXIS I diagnosis: clinical disorders, including major mental disorders, as well as developmental and learning disorders
• Be 18 years or older and a resident of Westmoreland county
• Be a Torrance State Hospital discharge, an inpatient discharge, homeless, in imminent risk of homelessness, in transitional living (shelters), MH residential (time limited), doubled-up with family/friends, facing eviction from current resident and temporary unemployment and/or meeting guidelines

Be income eligible, earning below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. An individual earning less than $21,660.00 would be eligible for the program

Provide proof of Medical Assistance eligibility

Have the ability to sustain/maintain affordable housing once debt is paid

posted 12/17/10

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Program Funding

Pathways Mental Health Programs are funded through Westmoreland County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the PA Department of Welfare, and Value Behavioral Health.

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We Provide Services to Residents of Westmoreland County

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