Agency continues its mission to help residents facing hard times
Mohawk Opportunities, Inc. recently moved to a new location in Schenectady, but its mission to help Schenectady County residents challenged by life circumstances hasn’t diminished over 40 years.
The not-for-profit agency celebrated the opening of its new location on 201 Nott Terrace in Schenectady with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Chamber of Schenectady County in early June. Previously, Mohawk Opportunities leased three office suites on Franklin Street in the city, but purchasing the new building will allow the agency save money and become more efficient. County residents receiving services from the agency include individuals living with mental illness, HIV/AIDS and homelessness. Joe Gallagher, executive director for Mohawk Opportunities, said that at any given time, the agency serves around 225 individuals.
With the new location, we consolidated our programs and administrative offices into one location, said Gallagher. `That allowed us to more effectively link our various services, as well as add efficiency to our business operations.`
In 1968, Dr. Joseph Libbon, with the help of the Junior League of Schenectady, started the agency when the Dominion House was opened to offer the first community residence program for individuals living with mental illness in the state. It later expanded services to more individuals with a focus on housing and community integration. Services offered today include supported housing options, symptom management, medication management, daily living and self care tasks, community and home-based clinical treatment, along with socialization opportunities. It also assists in advocacy and helps attain benefits and other services.
Promoting growth and recovery is the main goal behind Mohawk Opportunities’ services.
`We have tried to expand our services so that we are best positioned to respond to the needs of the community and the individuals that we service,` said Gallagher. `We also added the ACT program. We were able to provide outreach to those clients who are not benefiting from traditional forms of treatment.`
The agency has a staff of 75 employees and a budget of $5 million, which is funded through Medicaid, program fees paid by clients through Supplemental Security Income or public assistance and donations. It also gets funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The move turned out to be a smart one for the financial aspect of the business.
`We were able to purchase the building for the same amount we’re paying in rent, and in the long run it will allow us to lower our overall costs,` said Gallagher. `It had been a goal of our board of directors to find an office building of our own. It was strongly believed that it would enhance our presence in the community as well as increase the efficiency and affectivities of our opportunities.`
Most clients are also served through traditional programs offered and Mohawk Opportunities helps support a stable lifestyle for clients in the community. Workers will go to a client’s residence and check in on how they are doing and help teach them life skills for independent living, such as organization, shopping, menu planning laundry and seeking employment.
`They would be in much more expensive and much more restrictive levels of care, such as a hospital or jail,` said Gallagher. `There would also be a much higher use of emergency rooms and hospitalization.`
The agency also benefits the community by providing a more efficient form of services, he said. Also, the agency helps overcome social stigmas and perceptions of individuals served.
`Too often mental illness and homelessness and AIDS carry with it a stigma that affects a client’s ability to live in a stable community setting,` said Gallagher. `We are able to ensure and help these clients live that stable and meaningful life and minimize the stigma of their situation.`
The demand for services doesn’t appear to be fading either.
`There is always a high need for these kinds of services. The volume of need exceeds the amount of services that are available,` he said. `It has increased as the state has shifted to community based programming instead of institutional care.`
Building a stronger community through integration is important to the agency, he said.
`It is more beneficial for the client to remain in the community. It is much less expensive than institutional care,` he said.“
