Andre's House prepares to open its doors
Cliffie McDaniel-Thompson remembers her father’s struggles with mental illness. She wants his memory to provide hope and comfort to others with a similar condition.
Although Andre McDaniel died six years ago, part of his legacy continues at a group home to be called Andre’s House. It will be in the former American Rescue Workers site at 1311 Market Ave. N.
The house is getting some improvements before opening as a residence for local people who are homeless and afflicted with a mental illness.
“This is permanent supportive housing,” said McDaniel-Thompson, who is overseeing the project. “This is their home. My purpose is to help them enjoy their lives. Everybody deserves that.”
She operates a similar group home a block north, in the 1400 block of Market Avenue N, where five people reside. She plans to transfer those residents to the new location.
“The population that I serve is mental-health, homeless adults,” McDaniel-Thompson said. “The expansion will allow for 11. I have a waiting list right now of seven people. The situation with Stark County, there are not a lot of shelters here. There is a need. You sit for an hour on the porch, you will see them wandering.”
NEW USE
The American Rescue Workers closed its homeless shelter early this year. Financial difficulties prompted the agency, a ministry and charity based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to shut down its Canton shelter.
“When the American Rescue Workers closed down, that really hurt the community,” said Brenda Raye, president of the board of directors that is overseeing Andre’s House. “A lot of people relied on the American Rescue Workers. Cliffie is coming in and trying to turn that into a powerhouse facility.”
Along with bedrooms, the facility has a full-service kitchen. Meals will be served to residents.
“My understanding is she is trying to open it up in six to nine months,” said Raye, who is with Stark Social Workers Network. “I believe it is going to cost about $100,000 — the minor repairs that have to be done, the survey work. We have to get it inspected and approved. It is small things that have to be fixed. We want to make it the best possible environment for our clients.”
McDaniel-Thompson has her group home operator’s license from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
The 2 1/2-story facility still is listed on Stark County real estate records as property of the American Rescue Workers. “The goal is to purchase,” McDaniel-Thompson said.
Efforts to contact American Rescue Workers officials were not successful.
BIG NEED
Another group addressing the housing needs of the local mentally ill population is ICAN Housing. For the most part, Canton-based ICAN does not operate group homes, but provides apartments for its clients.
“Our mission is to serve people who are homeless and have a mental-health issue,” said Maryellen Cameron, ICAN’s executive director. “We still do have quite a few people who need help with housing.”
Cameron referenced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual Point-in-Time survey of homelessness for Stark County.
“This year we had results showing we had 60 people actually on the street,” Cameron said. “And we had 239 in emergency shelters. We do continue to have a problem in Stark County with people who can’t afford housing.”
The survey is conducted by the local Continuum of Care group which acts as a liaison with HUD for homeless programs in the county.
“Homelessness goes hand-in-hand with mental illness and substance abuse,” said Suzanne Acker, communications and development director for Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. “It goes without saying that people that are troubled like that are more likely to be homeless than people who are stable. What we support is permanent supportive housing. That is housing with services.”
Currently, McDaniel-Thompson is not receiving any funding support from the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Stark County.
For McDaniel-Thompson, providing a stable residence is crucial to helping the mentally ill cope with their affliction.
“Housing first,” she said. “Until you get people housed, how are you going to treat them?”
Reach Malcolm at 330-580-8305 or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP
WHAT: Andre’s House benefit dinner
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. June 12
WHERE: Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7707 Market Ave. N, Plain Township.