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NAMI Hope Haven reports early use: 52 warm‑line calls, 14 drop‑ins, two overnights in three weeks
Summary
A NAMI program representative updated councilors on the peer‑run respite program’s first three weeks: 52 warm‑line calls (about four per day), 14 drop‑ins, two overnight guests and neighborhood friction with one neighbor resolved by a privacy fence.
Chrissy Bernard, speaking during the council meeting’s public‑comment portion on Aug. 5, gave an operational update on NAMI Hope Haven’s peer‑run respite program after its first three weeks of service.
Bernard said the program had received 52 calls to the warm line (averaging about four calls per day with an average call length of nine minutes), had served 14 drop‑in guests and hosted two overnight guests in the first three weeks. Staff and volunteers provided practical assistance, including help with veterans’ paperwork (DD‑214 retrieval), replacement food‑share card assistance, disability paperwork referrals and connections to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Bernard said one neighbor raised concerns (a “NIMBY” issue), causing the program to install a privacy fence and to cancel a neighborhood night‑out event; she said other neighbors have been supportive and are volunteering, including a therapist and substance‑use counselor who has offered pro bono assistance.
Bernard described the program’s services as peer support, warm‑line response and short‑term respite, with referrals to other community resources. She thanked the council for past support and provided the metrics as a transparency update; no action or additional funding request was made during the public comment.
The council had no follow‑up questions in the meeting and the public‑comment update closed after Bernard’s remarks.
