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News/Events Archives

A Benefit for SHAL

A Benefit for SHAL
Saturday, November 26th, 7-9pm

Click to Enlarge
Monroe County Sheriff donation

Monroe County Sheriff's Col. Rick Ramsey on Monday presented Key West Mayor Craig Cates and the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League's Executive Director Wendy Coles a $10,000 check to help fight homelessness.

The generous donation will help support the Mobile Outreach Program, which hit the streets the very same day. The innovative new program is the result of a recommendation of the Mayor's committee on homelessness, agroup of community representatives who have worked hard over the past year to come up with solutions to the city's homeless problem.

This pilot outreach program teams the Klaus Murphy Foundation, the Guidance Care Center, the Lower Keys Medical Center, the City, the Sheriff's Office and the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League in a program that reaches out to the men, women and children on the streets of Key West. The mobile center will provide very real support, whether it means help obtaining identification, veteran's benefits or simple wound care. This new approach is an active way of reaching out to people in need throughout Key West.
Nelson Read dedication at Peacock Apartments

DEDICATION OF PEACOCK APARTMENTS, BUILDING 1622 IN HONOR OF NELSON AND SHERRY READ

Recently, a founding member of SHAL, Nelson Read, and his wife, Sherry, were recognized by the dedication of one of the buildings in Poinciana Housing. Pictured below is Steve Braddock,Executive Director of the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, Rick Casey, Executive Director of the Heron-Peacock Assisted Living, Sheri Read and Representative Ron Saunders.

Picture courtesy of Ron Roberts

Nelson was a long time supporter of SHAL, serving in many capacities on the Board of Directors and on committees. Nelson wrote the letters of incorporation for SHAL. We are forever indebted to him for his support of SHAL, his commitment to helping those with special needs, and for his work on behalf of those with mental illness.

During the dededication, Sherry Read spoke on behalf of Nelson. In Sherry's words...

He knew mental illness such as debilitating depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are widespread and often misunderstood. People still confuse mental illness with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. They are not the same. Mental retardation is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning. In contrast, people with mental illnesses have a biological brain disorder that causes changes in their thinking, mood, and behavior. They have varied intellellctual functioning just like the general population. Our community is blessed to have the wonderful MARC organization for people with developmental disabilities and our community is blessed to have Heron-Peacock for people living with a severe mental illness.

He knew that mental illnesses are surprisingly common and that they affect almost every family in America. Mental illnesses do not discriminate - they can effect anyone, often-times striking during a person's prime such as their first year of college or soon after graduating from college and going out on their own. Mental illness has been called an equal opportunity disease, just like cancer or heart disease. The fact that severe mental illnesses are not neurotic or emotional problems but are, in fact, physical illnesses ought to do at least two positive things. It should diminish the stigma associated with these brain diseases. It should lead to improved medical and community care. Yet, people with mental illness continue to be treated with disdain, hostility, and disrespect.

Neslon also knew that mental illness is devastating to the ill person and to their family as one's thinking, feeling, and relating are disrupted, seriously reducing the ability to live a normal life.

And the good news is that it is treatable. Appropriate medical care, guidance and support enable many people to recover enough to lead productive lives. Support, housing, education and a community of friends who understand can make life satisfying and meaningful. People with mental illness have the same dreams that we all do. They want to live in their own home, spend time with family and friends, find meaningful work and enjoy the many small pleasures of being part of a community.

He believed that people with psychiatric disabilities are capable of making good decisions and he believed that housing is a basic human right, an investment in people and our community that can save lives and even tax payer money.

Won't you join Nelson, me and the people at Heron-Peacock Supported Living, in fighting stigma and discrimination that limits people's choices in housing, employment and services so that they can lead independent lives and make their own life decisions?
Point-in-Time 2009

More about SHAL...

Every year, SHAL conducts a point-in-time census to document the number of homeless people in the county. The last census was held January 27, 2009 and found a total of 1,040 individuals experiencing homelessness. While the number of homeless individuals continues to remain stable, this number is a significant reduction from the 2,151 people in 2002, which is evidence that programs currently in place are working. Especially, the full utilization Poinciana Plaza, former Navy property that transferred to the City of Key West and now offers transitional and permanent residential facilities for homeless individuals and families with special needs.