POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Rob Rolison has announced that the City of Poughkeepsie is using federal COVID relief money to bolster mental health and housing services through partnership programs. The program is an expansion of the venture between the city and Mental Health America of Dutchess County known as the B.E.A.T. program.
The Behavioral Evaluation and Assistance Team, known as B.E.A.T., partners a behavioral health professional with the police in order to broaden response services.
The city has expanded that effort to provide more help during the pandemic and has added services provided by Hudson River Housing to assist people with housing needs. The team now has the capability of providing information and access to a multitude of programs that those in distress can access, said Rolison.
“Every time you can help one person you are essentially helping a larger group of people because these folks are relatives; they are moms, they are dads, they are sisters and brothers and sons and daughters. This type of crisis has an impact on family and community so we are going to do what we can,” he said.
In addition to being able to provide immediate mental health assistance, the team now has trained members that can offer assistance with housing, vaccination information, transportation to the Dutchess County Stabilization Center, and other services.
Rolison joined with the expanded team to unveil the plan to Mid-Hudson News. “People who have challenges in life from mental health, addiction, housing, or financial struggles are difficult to assist without a team of professionals that each have a different area of expertise,” said Rolison. This unique approach is the product of our police reform plan and community input. “Our community has expressed an interest in enhancing our crisis intervention abilities and this expanded team is the result.”
Rolison noted that the new approach is funded for one year and will be evaluated during the development of the 2023 city budget.
