NAMI Central Georgia Announces New Residential Housing for the Mentally Ill

Warner Robins, Ga., May 14, 2024

NAMI Central Georgia, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is proud to announce the grand opening of its new residential housing for the mentally ill on May 17, 2024. The facility, Georgetown, will provide a safe and supportive environment for residents who are living with mental health conditions.

The new housing project was funded by NAMI Central Georgia and a Community Development Block grant made possible by the City of Warner Robins. This project and the work of NAMI Central Georgia has rallied support from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Governor Brian Kemp who has made mental health a priority in his administration, and Georgia Representative Todd Jones (R) who helped to write HB1013 (Georgia Mental Health Parity Act).

Pictured left to right: Mayor LaRhonda Patrick, Todd Jones (R) - Georgia State Representative, Meredith McGowan - Behavioral Health Hospital Transition Specialist, DBHDD Region 6, William Baggley - Outside Sales Rep, Griffin Lumber, Angela Holt - Middle Flint Health & Wellness, CEO, Herschel Vandiver - NAMI Central Georgia, Treasurer, Mariette Clardy-Davis - NAMI Central Georgia, 1st Vice President 8. Tonja Simmons Lee - NAMI Central Georgia, Board President 9. Brian Wise - Haven Hope House, Supervisor, Paula Watkins - Executive Director, CEO, Shelley Milton - 2nd Vice President, Rhett Thompson - NAMI Central Georgia Board Member, RN BC Psychiatric Nurse, Wade Yoder - Peach County Commissioner

DBHDD has awarded NAMICG $500,000.00 from a budget allocation passed by the state and approved by the Governor to continue to offer a range of mental health services to residents and the community, including:

Work study programs
Educational opportunities
Case management
Peer services
Medication management
Psychiatric resources
Transportation
Life Skills
And so much more

“We are thrilled to open this new residential housing for the mentally ill, which will fill a critical gap in our community. Many people with mental health conditions face homelessness, unemployment, isolation, and stigma. This facility and our ongoing efforts to create a mental health housing complex will offer them a place to call home, where they can access the services and support they need to recover and thrive,” said Paula Watkins, the Executive Director of NAMI Central Georgia.

“We are grateful to DBHDD and Governor Kemp for their generous funding and their commitment to improving the mental health system in Georgia. We also want to thank our staff, donors, and partners who have worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. Together, we are creating hope and changing lives,” she added.

The grand opening of the new residential housing for the mentally ill took place on May 17th The event featured remarks from Georgia House of Representative Todd Jones (R), NAMI Central Georgia Board Chair Tonja Simmons Lee, NAMI Central Georgia Executive Director and CEO Paula Watkins.

About NAMI Central Georgia

NAMI Central Georgia is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI Central Georgia provides education, advocacy, and support for people living with mental health conditions and their families in Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties. NAMI Central Georgia is the ONLY NAMI affiliate that provides mental health housing and wrap around services. NAMI National also operates a helpline, a resource center, a family-to-family program, a peer-to-peer program, support groups, and a crisis intervention team. To learn more, visit www.namiofcentralga.org or www.nami.org.