40 Prado HomelessServices Center
The 40 Prado Homeless Services Center opened its doors in San Luis Obispo Countyon September 17, 2018, to provide a cost-effective and central location for homelessfamilies and individuals as they embark on the path to self-sufficiency. In partnershipwith the compassionate community of San Luis Obispo County, the Community ActionPartnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. (CAPSLO) spearheaded planning andconstruction to bring 40 Prado to life.
40 Prado is a 24-hour, year-round facility that provides personal care and shelter for100 clients, including an average of ten children a night, and serves 84,000 meals peryear. As part of the County’s Continuum of Care, CAPSLO and 40 Prado effectivelyassist the homeless by providing customized services that include: counseling, casemanagement, on-site primary healthcare, veterans’ services, and much more. Built toimprove the health and stability of its participants, 40 Prado aims to provide families andindividuals with a means to an end.
To meet the needs of homeless individuals who come to 40 Prado with mental healthissues, CAPSLO has begun collaborating with Transitions Mental Health Association(TMHA) on a program that provides mobile mental health services for clients classifiedas “Moderate to Severe.” TMHA’s Homeless Outreach Team works with 40 Prado staffto reach the most challenging of clients, utilizing mobile tele-psychiatry services toidentify those who suffer from dual diagnoses, such as mental health illnesses inconjunction with substance abuse disorders, and prescribe necessary medications.
Since December 2018, 12 children and one pregnant mom have been served throughthe Early Head Start Program located at 40 Prado, and two children and their familieshave been provided regular opportunities to promote positive parent-child relationshipsand high-quality early learningexperiences while staying at the center, through theHead Start Home Base Program. Out of this program, two families have been placed inhousing to date.
