As the mother whose son who has suffered from a serious mental illness for 30 years and as a person who treasures the quiet neighborhood where we live, I can see both sides of the issue featured in THE TIMES October 15 “Debate stirs around Second Story.”
We all see the effects of untreated mental illness on our streets, swelling courtrooms and our jail population. It is not pretty to look at this overwhelming problem that affects us all. We certainly do not want it anywhere near our safe homes.
However, describing Second Story as a “Mental Health Facility in a residential neighborhood” is misleading. Second Story is a house, no offices or treatment rooms. It has six guest beds. It is a HOME and small supportive community. Second Story is Peer run. There is no Hospital Staff. Peers are in a unique position to help each other in ways clinicians cannot. Second Story is a RESPITE house, which means people come for short stays to avoid a crisis and be in a supportive, family like setting.
Second Story wants to be good neighbors. They want to make the neighborhood safer and better.
Santa Cruz has such serious problems with mental illness and the mentally ill homeless. There is a woeful shortage of mental health beds and treatment options. This peer run service is helping keep people off the streets, out of jail or hospital, saving money and saving lives.
I wish there was a safe forum where both sides could express their concerns and the facts could be discussed with good will. They might come to appreciate and value each other.
— Elena Broslovsky, NAMIscc Volunteer, Aptos, CA