The people with whom [Heritage] deals ... are at the bottom of the housing ladder; people whose lives are on the edge of disintegration; people trying day by day to beat the disease of alcoholism, or mental illness, or substance abuse. That is our clientele. … Without government assistance to house this population, they will be in everyone’s backyard, and in their parks, and under their highways, and in their train stations.
And housing is only the first step. They need counseling. They need individual support. They need treatment.
… for this country to remain great, it must deal with and find a way to use the great potential this large disadvantaged population represents in terms of manpower (personpower), diversity and creativity.
- Ana Pereria
Funded by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HCCP is an intensive case management program serving approximately 120 women per year who have a forensic background and who are either HIV positive or of greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Referrals come from prisons, homeless shelters, medical and psychiatric centers, and from other community based non-profit organizations. Clients in HCCP are linked to community based medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse services to assist them in maintaining wellness and integrating successfully into the community. Case management is provided to clients on an “ACT” (Assertive Community Treatment) team model to best facilitate fidelity to the program. Many of HCCP’s clients have suffered trauma in their lives, and so trauma treatment is provided to them utilizing the “Seeking Safety” program (Najavits, L.) for trauma and substance abuse intervention.