Los Angeles Mission expands psychological services for Skid Row’s homeless

The Los Angeles Mission on Monday announced expanded psychological services for homeless men and women living in downtown’s Skid Row — funded in part over the next three years with a $50,000 donation from the Goldwin Foundation.

The funds will go toward counselors and support services — provided through the Chicago School of Psychology — for those involved in the Mission’s 13-month rehabilitation program.

Goldwin donated $50,000 at an Oct. 21 gala event to help pay for chaplains to complete state certification programs in counseling, and to fund greater professional supervision of the Mission’s counseling services.

The Los Angeles Homeless Count report released in 2011 indicates 33 percent of the homeless population — about 14,830 people — suffer from mental illnesses, while another 34 percent have substance abuse problems and 10 percent are victims of domestic violence.

Goldwin’s financial assistance will continue the Mission’s work with the Chicago School of Psychology, said Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission, and will help the Los Angeles Mission “provide more people with the chance for permanent life change.”

The Mission offers services beyond the basic “three hots and a cot — meaning meals and beds only,” and runs the Wellness Recovery Action Program, which provides counseling education, job training and spiritual assistance ” all in a safe, nurturing environment,” he said.

Rick Ghazy, vice president of the Goldwin Foundation, said the company “wanted to give back to the community where we live and work” and Los Angeles Mission was recommended as being among the top, “respected” organizations in Los Angeles serving the homeless.

“When we came in and took a tour of the Los Angeles Mission, we were touched by all of the people we met there,” Ghazy said. “It made us want to help, which is exactly how we came to see that the work the Mission does is unparalleled.”

— City News Service