It’s no surprise that approximately 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness, but what are the local facilities doing to help?

Mission House is the only day facility to help meet the needs of people who are homeless at the Beaches through compassion, faith, and programs designed to provide assistance at an individual level.

For clients facing mental health concerns, Mission House is meeting their needs through case management and art therapy.

Mission House’s Case Managers Jane and Carmen see around 215 new and repeat visitors a month for case management. Clients receive one-on-one counseling where they work intimately with case managers to develop a program planned to restore their independence.

One of the ways Mission House aims to serve clients healing through mental health issues is through Art Therapy. Each Wednesday, local artist Marsha Glazière leads an art class for Mission House clients.

Clients who participate can experience the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modeling. The projects vary each week, but what does not change is the creativity and joy that leaves the room.

“The art therapy gives our clients an outlet to handle their frustrations. It has become a connection to the community through art (for those who are artistically inclined it truly is a community) and creates confidence for those who are naturally artistically inclined. For one of my clients, art literally was the only coping mechanism they had to get through multiple foster homes, abuse, and prison,” according to Carmen, a case manager at Mission House.

Mission House’s goal is to bring awareness to the mental health stigma, especially with adults who find themselves homeless at the beaches.

Mission House is open 7 days a week, 361 days a year.