History

Interim was founded in 1975 by mental health professionals, community members, and client families who saw a need for community-based alternatives to institutional care for people with psychiatric disabilities.

In the 70s

California was closing or scaling back State Mental Hospitals, and people were being released into the community without services, housing, or support. Some of Interim’s early residents had been in State Mental Hospitals and some had received treatment in acute care faculties. Our first project was a 12-bed halfway house in Monterey, developed in 1976. The following year, we opened a second halfway house in Salinas.

In the 80s

Interim branched out in to vocational services, creating the Sunflour Cookie Company to provide vocational experiences for our clients. Although the business was eventually sold, we opened a second program in 1996, SEES, to help our clients find educational opportunities and meaningful work. Our efforts to create supportive employment opportunities for our clients were recognized in December 2009 when the State Department of Rehabilitation named Interim as an “Employer of the Year.”

In the mid-1980s, Interim created the Our Voices program, our first peer-led social support group for adults with mental illness.

In 2002

We opened MCHOME to provide outreach and support services for homeless adults with mental illness in collaboration with Monterey County Behavioral Health. MCHOME provides intensive integrated services and housing for homeless adults with mental illness to move them off the streets and into housing and treatment.

With the passage of California Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, Interim was able to offer several new programs. In 2006, we opened a new 20-unit housing project with intensive support services designed to help homeless clients with mental illness who had difficulty in maintaining housing, Lupine Gardens. We also opened the OMNI Resource Center in Salinas, a peer-operated wellness and recovery program.

Keep It Real

In 2007

We added the Keep it Real (formerly Dual Recovery Services) day program designed to help those in recovery from both mental illness and substance abuse disorders and expanded our homeless services, outreach, and housing.

In June 2010

We opened Sunflower Gardens, a 23-bed transitional and permanent housing project. It was the first affordable supportive housing project in California to earn Platinum certification (the top award) under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program of the US Green Building Council.

In December 2014

Interim opened Rockrose Gardens, a 20 unit permanent supportive housing project.

Based in Salinas, Interim opened the Pajaro Street Wellness Center in 2014.
The Center houses the OMNI Resource Center and other programs. In 2016, Interim also began offering other services next door.

Recent History

In April 2018, Interim moved its Bridge house program, a dual-diagnosis treatment program for adults with a substance use disorder and a mental illness, into its newly constructed home in Marina. The Bridge House has 14 beds for residents as part of its transitional residential treatment program, and Bridge House clients attend the Wellness and Recovery Academy, a day rehabilitation program. Using the old Bridge House location in Monterey, Interim also opened a second 13-bed crisis residential facility for people experiencing mental health crisis.

Interim held a grand opening on October 26, 2023, for a 17-bed project in Salinas, Sun Rose Apartments. The three-story complex houses 17 residents and a resident manager.  There are nine studio and one-bedroom units of permanent, affordable, supported housing for adults with psychiatric disabilities who are homeless, chronically homeless, or at risk of homelessness. In addition, one floor of the complex contains transitional housing for eight residents.

The Sun Rose Housing project replaces the former Soledad House, which Interim had owned since 1980. Soledad House was Interim’s original crisis residential facility and later provided transitional, shared housing. The property was in disrepair, and Interim demolished the building and used the property to build Sun Rose Apartments. Wald, Ruhnke & Dost Architects designed the project.

I can now see how much Interim, NAMI (National Association For Mental Illness) and especially the consumers have done to educate the public, to reduce the stigma of mental illness, and to contribute to the process of recovery. I am proud to have been a part of Interim, an agency that has opened doors for so many consumers.

Corey Miller
former Interim Community Housing Program Director 1977 – 2001 (Passed Away, 2015)