Hope House has plans for expansion

Hope House is expanding its services and its capacity to better serve a growing need in the community.

Since 2001, the facility has worked with women who have mental health and substance abuse problems and their children. On Thursday, Hope House, which has outgrown its facilities, will break ground on a new site.

"In the state of Georgia, mental health is in a lot of turmoil," Executive Director Gerald Carrier said, calling Hope House the community's only residential treatment center.

"The need is there," he said.

The move to Highland Avenue in Augusta is Hope House's response to that need. The new facility will expand Hope House from 6,000 square feet to 32,000.

With more space, it will serve 42 women and their children, which could add up to a total of more than 100 people, Dr. Carrier said. Currently, the facility treats 18 women and their 12 children. There are 48 women on the waiting list.

Mental health and drug abuse are the top underlying factors in becoming homeless, Dr. Carrier said. In Augusta, 65 percent of those who are homeless suffer from either mental health problems, drug abuse or both.

Hope House transitions its residents back into the community and into their own housing in phases, Dr. Carrier said. After a few months of living at Hope House, the women have full-time jobs or are furthering their education. Hope House also offers an after-care program.

A separate program addresses the needs of the children, he said. Often, children of women with these problems have issues of their own, such as anger and feelings of abandonment.

"Mental health disorders are growing rapidly in this region," Dr. Carrier said.

Thursday's groundbreaking will be held at 2 p.m. at 2205 Highland Ave. The new Hope House location was selected because of its isolation, residential surroundings, proximity to hospitals and access to public transportation.

The facility should be complete by August.

The site is being funded by a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant, $4 million from the Department of Community Affairs and $183,000 from the Augusta Commission.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.