Nevada County celebrated the re-opening of the newly renovated Odyssey House Monday, December 13th, with officials and speakers from Nevada County and Auburn Counseling. The building has been under renovation to expand treatment beds for clients in need of intensive mental health while preparing to transition to independent living.
Odyssey House provides 24/7 residential supports in a therapeutic setting to clients with the goal to transition them to independent living. The program promotes vocational and job acquisition skills and provides on-site case management, group therapy, and counseling services, and staff actively assist clients in the completion of chores, daily activities, and medication adherence.
“Odyssey House is an important resource for people struggling with serious mental illness” says Phebe Bell, Nevada County Behavioral Health Director. “The program provides supports for daily tasks and life skills, as well as a welcoming and supportive place to live, which allows people to become more stable and eventually move on to independent living”. Many clients come to Odyssey House after a psychiatric emergency which may have included time in an institutional setting out of the County. The home like environment at Odyssey House, as well as the caring staff at the site, are critical aspects to the success of the program.
Odyssey House was built in the 1970s, purchased by Nevada County in December of 1994, and was overdue for improvements. Building and grounds improvements were extensive and included a new foundation, sidewalks, roof, and provided space for an additional six treatment beds. Residents will also enjoy a new commercial kitchen, an improved patio space with gazebo, and upgraded ADA accommodations.
Renovations were supported through an award of Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $3,196,396. Nevada County applied for funding in 2017, was awarded in July of 2018, and began construction on the facility in early 2019. The funding allowed the County to complete improvements that provide services to a greater number of those in need and potentially lead to a positive impact for those that suffer from chronic homelessness.
“We are excited to be at this moment”, said Mike Dent, Director of Housing and Community Services, Child Support, and Collections. “Completing the project has been a moving target and has been affected by supply chain issues created by the pandemic. This building is now a state-of-the-art facility”.
Odyssey House works in partnership with Nevada County Behavioral Health, and all referrals are processed through NCBH. Anyone in need of mental health support can contact the Behavioral Health line at (530) 265-1437 and ask for the Intake worker.
Better Together Nevada County
Better Together Nevada County is an overall strategy spearheaded by County of Nevada to support innovative and meaningful collaboration with key stakeholders, while educating the public, and inviting them to be part of the solution. Community Members wishing to learn more about volunteer opportunities to support non-profit organizations working on homelessness can visit the Better Together Volunteer Hub at ConnectingPoint.org/BetterTogether.