Gathering Place offers safe haven during hard times

"œLet's rock this."

These were the first words uttered by Scott Kreps, executive director of The Gathering Place, in an interview last Tuesday at the organization's facility on North Congress Street in Athens.

This sentiment referred to more than just his attitude toward the ensuing interview; it's also how he approaches his work at The Gathering Place.

Through their services, the organization provides the mentally ill with an alternative to going to a psychiatric hospital and helps these individuals make connections to obtain a job and a place to stay.

Despite the 78 percent reduction in funding that community mental-health facilities have experienced since the organization's inception in the mid-1970s, Kreps appears to be in high spirits about its future.

This year, The Gathering Place received a $17,000 grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph, which will be spent on widening health and wellness programs already in place at the facility.

"They really saved us this year," Kreps said.

Other organizations such as the Athens Foundation and the 317 Board help fund The Gathering Place.

The state-affiliated 317 Board aids in funding mental-health, alcohol and drug addiction programs and services in Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties, both Medicaid and non-Medicaid.

Recently, less funding has been available from the 317 Board because they are forced to first match Medicaid programs, and after that, only so many dollars are left for non-Medicaid services.

Kreps cited three main problems with funding mental-health facilities like The Gathering Place: First, the poor economy makes it difficult to raise money. Secondly, there continues to be a lack of financial support for treating those with mental illnesses. Finally, non-Medicaid funding is lacking.

"On top of the economic problems everyone is facing, mental-health funding has always seen a greater hit," said Kreps. "The Medicaid-match dilemma is just a specific crisis under already horrible conditions."

The Gathering Place would have to become more bureaucratic to gain available Medicaid dollars, according to Kreps. This would mean paying more staff members to do charting and office work, and turning away many people who depend on the facility's services because they aren't eligible for Medicaid.

Under such financial pressure, he noted, donations become even more important as a revenue source.

HONORS FRATERNITY Alpha Lambda Delta held a charity ball last month to raise money for The Gathering Place.

"We decided to go with (The Gathering Place) because it helps people with mental illnesses, and it helps people in Athens," said fraternity president Dan Williams.

At The Gathering Place, the focus is on what Kreps referred to as "whole-body recovery" which emphasizes how important all aspects of life are to mental recovery.

Many individuals walk through the facility's doors without access to food stamps or medical cards, he said, and they're often homeless, jobless and poor. Most don't have insurance coverage because they aren't sick enough.

"When they don't have a place to go, they come here," said Kreps.

"A lot of folks that come here have eroded the support groups that you or I have - family and some close friends," he continued. "For many of our members, this is their first home, their first family. We are open every single day of the year."

The Gathering Place provides support, connection to community, a sense of dignity and a more humanizing environment than other medical places because individuals can come and go as they please, explained Kreps.

"Helping others and providing genuine support aids in self-empowerment is vital to mental-health recovery; that is one aspect that is overlooked a lot. It's a piece in the whole picture," he said.

According to Kreps, it costs $495 a day for a bed at a psychiatric hospital and $60 to $120 a day for an individual to be in jail, where many mentally ill people find themselves.

The Gathering Place costs approximately $12.22 a day per person served, he said.

"It is so much more cost-effective, and the quality of life is so much better," Kreps said. "This is everyone's issue. Our type of program saves lives while saving dollars. Besides being cost-effective, we believe that recovery is possible, we believe community is important, and we provide preventative care."

In the week leading up to March 3, more than 110 people walked through the doors of the North Congress Street home that houses The Gathering Place for relief. How often an individual comes depends on their level of comfort, said Kreps.

The facility offers a plethora of programs for individuals to voluntarily participate in, which include cooking classes, music therapy and appreciation, canoeing and outdoor recreation, and a leadership orientation that can evolve into a paid position.

According to Kreps, many Ohio University students volunteer with these programs while others just come in to support or connect with members.

"It is almost more of a service to students because they see their community in a different light and can see where they live. Also, they experience a really innovative program," Kreps said.

More information can be found at the organization's Web site, www.gatheringplaceathens.org.