Groundbreaking Survey Reveals Growing Older Adult Homeless

A first-of-its-kind study by the non-profit Shelter Partnership addresses the plight and increasing volume of Los Angeles County's homeless age 62 or older, concluding that about 3,000 to 4,000 seniors are among the fastest-growing and most vulnerable homeless populations in the County. About two-thirds are male and 28% veterans; 62% have reported some kind of physical or mental disability. At least a third and as many as half are considered chronically homeless and officials have found it difficult to get them off the streets. The study also notes that a host of programs serve homeless families and individuals, but few are specifically for the elderly. Pacific Clinics Director of Older Adult Services Faye Ashby, LCSW, served on Shelter Partnership’s advisory committee for the two-year-long effort.

To read the 3/20/08 Los Angeles Times article about the study, please click on the link below:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-homeless20mar20,1,5549955.story

Click on this link to read the full study from Shelter Partnership: http://www.shelterpartnership.org/HomelessOlderAdults.htm

Recent New Stories on Mental Health and Pacific Clinics:

"Youth Center Funded"

Pasadena Star-News March 13, 2008
An El Monte youth services program, which serves homeless or mentally ill teens and young adults, will move to Irwindale on Monday to a new drop-in center.
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"Rising from the depths"

Whittier Daily News August 20, 2007
Annette Holguin remembers one day she was a well-behaved, polite, respectful 14-year old student at Whittier High School. The next she was telling teachers off. Now 41, she remembers her parents being called into the principal's office. Soon after, Holguin was placed in a La Habra Community Hospital's psychiatric ward...
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"Fair lends homeless a hand"

Pasadena Star-News October 24, 2007
Scores of homeless people and residents of transitional housing facilities gathered...for the eighth annual Passageways Resource Fair...In the medical and mental health section of the room, nurses provided screening, arranged doctor's appointments and distributed flu shots..
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"Turning their lives around"

Pasadena Star-News September 10, 2007
.For Whittier resident Beth Alexander, 49, recovery means hope, faith and acceptance. She describes her current eight-year stretch of sobriety as a daily process that began when she moved back home to Whittier after two decades of drug abuse while living in Northern California. "I moved up north when I was 17 to get a new start," Alexander said Friday at Pacific Clinics in Santa Fe Springs, a mental health and substance abuse center...
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"Mentally ill get help from peers in new program"

Ventura County Star August 17, 2007
Gane Brooking still feels the pain of a traumatic childhood. Mark Carlisle is homeless and trying to beat a dependence on alcohol. Eve Ehlert prefers not to state her diagnosis, but says most of her symptoms are at bay. All have joined the Ventura Peer Pioneers, a group of 17 county residents trained to take control of their own mental illness and help others...and now they're getting to work.
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"Exploring the links between spirituality, mental health"

Los Angeles Times November 4, 2006
For decades, religion and psychotherapy-like oil and water-did not mix. Not anymore. At the third annual national conference on spirituality and mental health, sponsored by Pacific Clinics, 400 people in caring professions and ministries spent a day together...
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"Fighting mental illness stigma"

Whittier Daily News November 3, 2006
Rep. Grace Napolitano joined with Pacific Clinics officials Thursday to urge an end to the stereotyping of people with mental illnesses. "Stigma is what keeps many people from seeking the help they need," said Sharon Corey, director of Pacific Clinics in Santa Fe Springs.
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"Pacific Clinics CEO announced that the agency installed four additional Board Members"

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Newsletter August 2006
President/CEO Susan Mandel, Ph.D. announced that the agency installed four additional members to its Board of Directors. New members include Chief Marilyn Diaz, Sierra Madre Police Department.
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"Home, sweet home"

Pasadena Star-News July 17, 2006
Until the 1970's, people suffering from mental illness had little more to look forward to than a bleak, institutionalized existence, dependent on the care of others. The new Pacific Housing Development in Monterey Park is a far cry from such a fate. One of the only independent living projects for mentally disabled Asian residents in the Southland, the program is administered by Pacific Clinics Asian Pacific Family Center.
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"Throw Away Kids - Family Business" (Part II of a VI part series)

Pasadena Weekly July 6, 2006
For a crash-course in area youth homelessness, the very real aftermath of failures in the state's foster care system, catch a ride with Saul Zepeda. He's an outreach worker for Pacific Clinics' Healthy Transitions Program in Pasadena... Full Story

"Pacific Clinics moves to new sites"

San Gabriel Valley Tribune May 2, 2006
Pacific Clinics has relocated its services from its facility at 909 S. Fair Oaks Avenue. Three outpatient programs have been formed to continue to the meet the mental health needs of Pasadena clients.
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"Hestia House a unique shelter for area homeless"

Pasadena Star-News February 11, 2006
There are places that serve homeless children and others that cater to homeless adults, but homeless teens and young adults may find little or no help at all. Hestia House is one exception. It opened in October and is the only shelter for teens and young adults in the San Gabriel Valley.
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"Mental health office moves to YV"

Hi-Desert Star December 14, 2005
In mid-December, Pacific Clinics Twentynine Palms Child and Family services will move to a new location in Suite H at the Monterey Business Center in Yucca Valley.
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"Search for shelter: Passageways pairs the homeless with resources"

Pasadena Star-News October 22, 2005
Hundreds of people turned out for the 7th Annual Passageways Homeless Resource Fair in Pasadena on Friday. Designed to gather and advertise the free resources available to homeless people in Pasadena, the fair was held at Pacific Clinics' Wilson Auditorium.
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"Glendora Police Department's Sergeant Jamie Caldwell Honored"

Glendora Community News October 19, 2005
On October 26, 2005, Sergeant Jamie Caldwell will be recognized for his work with the city of Glendora's homeless population when he receives the 2005 "Extra" M.I.L.E.S. Award at the 14th Annual M.I.L.E.S. Conference. M.I.L.E.S. (Mental Illness and Law Enforcement Systems) is a coalition among the San Gabriel Valley Police Chiefs' Association, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Pacific Clinics...
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Pacific Clinics Main Office: 800 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006, Tel: (626) 254-5000