Father Joe's Villages 2014 Annual Report (1) | Page 17

Project 25 - Through this important endeavor, we serve chronically
homeless persons identified as the most costly frequent users of publicly
funded emergency and other services. Using a Housing First, harm-reduction
model, together with San Diego Housing Commission, United Way of
San Diego and numerous other public and private partners, we provide
subsidized permanent housing, intensive case management and a medical
home to Project 25 clients. Over a three-year period, we’re proud to say that
all 36 project participants have remained in their housing. This method of
intervention is expensive to implement, but the cost savings from demands
on community services are far greater. During the three years of the project,
savings to community resources were in excess of $4 million.
“I started drinking after I was diagnosed with epilepsy and, consequently,
I lost my business, house, car and family. My life existed around the bottle
for 15 years before I was admitted to Project 25. I wouldn’t be alive without
this program—I was drinking until I passed out every day for all those years.
Thanks to Project 25, I have an apartment, I am 2-years sober and my family
is accepting me back.” - Jeanine
In October 2014, St. Vincent de Paul Village was selected as a U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grantee. The new program, Village
Project 20, will expand Project 25’s success to an additional 20 frequent users
of publicly funded services and vulnerable adults in permanent housing. We
were pleased to again team up with SAMHSA, a relationship that beg