Harvest House officially launches expanded mental health program

With numerous supporters, philanthropic and community leaders in attendance, Harvest House held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for its Wellness Within Reach program on November 5. There were approximately 100 in attendance for the celebration, which took place at the program’s new center on Mango Avenue in Sarasota.

The event included remarks by Harvest House President and CEO Dan Minor, Harvest House Clinical Director John Lopez, Gulf Coast Community Foundation President | CEO Phillip P. Lanham, and Community Foundation of Sarasota County Director of Community Engagement Rebecca Abrahamson. After the remarks, guests were invited to tour the facility and enjoy light refreshments.

“Today, we're not just cutting a ribbon but we're opening a door, a door that leads to care, to hope, and to healing for people who – for far too long – have been standing on the other side of that door,” said Minor. “Recovery isn't just about having a roof over your head; it's about having someone to talk to when life gets hard, when the past feels heavy, and when hope feels out of reach. When care is within reach, healing begins. When we remove the barriers to care, we build stronger families; when we build stronger families, we build stronger communities.”

After a highly successful three-year pilot program, Harvest House is expanding and officially launched the Wellness Within Reach program on October 1. This initiative provides free mental health therapy services delivered directly in supportive housing or home settings, lowering barriers to mental health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and/or severe trauma in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Harvest House’s targeted demographic in Sarasota County includes 78% low- or moderate-income residents facing chronic homelessness, addiction, severe trauma, and untreated mental health conditions. Limited access to affordable and geographically accessible mental health services exacerbates instability, perpetuating cycles of homelessness and trauma.

During the pilot program, Harvest House tracked the impact on 126 participants and the results were resoundingly successful. There was a 100% success rate related to housing stability as well as a significantly reduced incidence of recidivism for program participants who engaged in therapy: women who received therapy had a 0% recidivism rate while men who received therapy had a 14% recidivism rate. These outcomes are much lower than Florida’s average, where more than 60% of people released from prison are rearrested within three years and approximately 25% are reincarcerated.

Additionally, program organizers found the program increased community resilience, reduced the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, and improved overall health outcomes within its target populations.

“When this building first opened in 2018, it became a lifeline to youth ages 16-24 [who were] experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, a safe, welcoming place where young people could rest, recharge and begin to heal,” said Lanham. “Harvest House is once again transforming this space, this time into a hub of accessible, no-cost mental health care for residents of all ages. Now, free weekly therapy delivered here on campus or in people's homes removes the biggest barriers to care: cost, transportation, child care, and stigma.”

Thanks to funding totaling $380,000 from area foundations and government entities – including Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Golisano Foundation and Sarasota County HERO Funds – Harvest House is now working to expand the program to reach additional community members.

Visit harvesthousecenters.com for more information.

About Harvest House
Harvest House is a local supportive housing and hunger relief provider with 300-plus beds and multiple programs throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. Harvest House became a pioneer in the local supportive and affordable housing movement in 1992. It serves members of our community who are working to rebuild their lives, including families and children experiencing homelessness, and adults with a history of addiction and incarceration. Its programs improve the economic status of residents and stabilize lives for generations to come. For more information, visit harvesthousecenters.org.