A message from the Executive Director:
During this time of Shelter in Place, Interim, Inc. has been actively supporting our clients. Mental Health services are “essential” under the current restrictions, and not only are we supporting our clients, we have stepped up our services. Moongate, the 90-unit project owned and operated by MidPen Housing in Chinatown in Salinas is OPEN. Interim has partnered with MidPen to use 20 of these studio apartments for our MCHOME clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have very low incomes. As of this writing, twelve Interim residents have moved in at Moongate, freeing up housing units for more people who are in need. This is quite an accomplishment during this time of crisis.
We continue to move Interim’s clients into permanent and transitional housing during this time. The Community Housing staff, the Housing Management Team, MCHOME, Shelter Cove, Sunflower, and the Maintenance teams are working tirelessly together to house new tenants who desperately need housing. Staff from all Interim’s departments continue to work together in impressive ways!
Our residential crisis programs at Manzanita Salinas and Manzanita Monterey continue to accept new admissions. This relieves the burden at our local hospitals by moving clients out of inpatient psychiatric beds allowing them to serve clients who need an in-patient level of hospitalization.
Our MCHOME Team continues to reach out to the homeless in Monterey County, providing support and services including food and temporary shelter when possible. Our ACT team continues to meet with clients in their homes and in south county, supporting those who have difficulties obtaining help because of language or distance barriers. Community Housing staff continue to support our permanent and transitional residents.
The OMNI Resource Center on Pajaro Street in Salinas has temporarily closed due to imposed restrictions on groups larger than ten. This has affected the CHOICES, Dual Recovery Services (DRS), Supported Education and Employment Services (SEES) and Academy programs. Although the building is closed, staff continue to provide support services to these clients via telephone and one-on-one counseling while maintaining social distancing. OMNI has established a “Warm Line” where clients can call, text, or email a support worker if they need to talk to someone. This is staffed Monday – Fridays from 10 AM – 4 PM at (831) 800-7660; TXT (831)998-7916; email Omni@interiminc.org.
Our lives have radically changed in these past weeks, but our commitment to provide housing, healing, and hope to adults with mental illness in Monterey County continues. If you would like to help in this effort, we are accepting non-perishable food donations to help our clients during this difficult time. Drop-off sites are available in Monterey and Salinas. Please call (831) 649-4522 for locations. If you wish to offer financial support, please call (831) 649-4522 X 205, or you may donate online.
We are proud of what we do and of our staff who have stepped up to serve others at this critical time. Thank you for your generous support always, and especially now as we navigate this crisis.
Barbara Mitchell
Executive Director,
