Supportive Housing/Homeless Assessment Line

Any agency that provides services to homeless individuals in St. Louis County are able to use this program. It consists of a dedicated phone line that can be used by workers, not clients, in these agencies. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all services are free of charge.

Quite simply, the program works like this: when a client needing substance abuse treatment seeks assistance at a homeless service provider agency, the assessment number may be called for an immediate assessment of the client's needs. Depending on those needs, the client may be referred to one of the Greater St. Louis Treatment Network locations for an assessment, or an on-site assessment may be performed in an emergency. In addition, the provider worker and the assessment counselor would consult for an appropriate course for action for the client and other family members. Homeless clients are given priority within the Network, and would be admitted to the appropriate level of care.

In addition to consulting with homeless service providers, various other services are available through this special line. Questions about substance abuse related issues – or helping determine whether a client may be using – can be answered through using this line. In addition, staffing and training services may be scheduled on a variety of topics, e.g., signs of use, drugs of abuse, codependency, and other topics. Since this program was created to meet the needs of homeless service providers in St. Louis, there is a great opportunity for further collaboration in defining the type of services that can be provided.

If you wish to ask further questions, or would like to learn more about the program, please feel free to e-mail Gordon Dymowski or contact him at (314) 432-5443.