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Stop stigmatising the homeless & mentally ill – Chonda T. Jeffers

- formally the Sandy Lane Centre, the Safe Haven Transitional Centre is working towards reorienting persons with such challenges back into society
With the Sandy Lane Centre being converted into the Safe Haven Transitional Centre, its administrators is urging that people stop stigmatising those persons with mental illnesses or who are homeless – their main client base – so that persons who need such help will come forward. Photo: VINO
Clinical Supervisor of Safe Haven Transitional Centre Chonda T. Jeffers (left) and Director of Safe Haven Transitional Centre Jacqueline A. Donovan. Photo: VINO
Clinical Supervisor of Safe Haven Transitional Centre Chonda T. Jeffers (left) and Director of Safe Haven Transitional Centre Jacqueline A. Donovan. Photo: VINO
Clinical Supervisor of the Safe Haven Transitional Centre Chonda T. Jeffers told this news site that some persons with severe mental health issues cannot usually transition back to society and as such they will remain in the care of the Government. Photo: VINO
Clinical Supervisor of the Safe Haven Transitional Centre Chonda T. Jeffers told this news site that some persons with severe mental health issues cannot usually transition back to society and as such they will remain in the care of the Government. Photo: VINO
Donovan said that with the change in scope the Safe Haven Transitional Centre now has a larger budget than when it was the Sandy Lane Centre. However she was not prepared to say what that budget was. Photo: VINO
Donovan said that with the change in scope the Safe Haven Transitional Centre now has a larger budget than when it was the Sandy Lane Centre. However she was not prepared to say what that budget was. Photo: VINO
PORT PURCELL, Tortola, VI – With the Sandy Lane Centre being converted into the Safe Haven Transitional Centre, its administrators are urging that people stop stigmatising those persons with mental illnesses or who are homeless – their main client base – so that persons who need such help will come forward.

This news site sat down for an exclusive interview on Wednesday April 20, 2016 with the persons in charge of the facility located in Purcell Estate about the name change and their new scope and mandate.

“Safe Haven Transitional Centre used to be the Sandy Lane Centre and the name has changed in order to provide better social support to individuals,” Director of the centre, Jacqueline A. Donovan said.

In the past Sandy Lane provided support to persons who were considered substance abusers. Safe Haven Transitional Centre now focuses on individuals who are homeless.

Donovan said most of the persons who are deemed homeless in the VI are those with mental illness, substance abusers or a those with recurring disorder. “That is where Safe Haven comes in, catering to those who are homeless,” she said.

Sandy Lane Centre now under Mental Health Unit

The Director explained that the Sandy Lane Centre has since gone in to the BVI Health Services Authority under the Community Mental Health Services.

“Most of the drug rehabilitation is done there. It is not being done here at the Safe Haven Transitional Centre. When clients come to us we focus on holistically, we provide different services at the centre...individual counselling, group counselling and that includes different group sessions such as coping skills, anger management, healthy living, job readiness, mental health awareness,” she said.

Donovan said too that even though the centre does not deal with substance abuse recovery, there are group sessions on addiction and recovery. They also do life skills training and getting the clients oriented towards getting back out there into the world of work.

“Some of the clients lost their skills and may not know how to do them any more so we have sessions on cooking and simple things, making their beds and other things. And that is because we are trying to transition them back into society and back into their own independent living,” she said.

Donovan said that once clients are coping well they do not have to continue to the end of the usually two year programme. She said, however, that even though the two years might have been reached it does not mean that a client has to go, as the Centre is willing to provide extra support until they are sure he or she is ready to leave and be reintegrated into society.

Some require long term care

Clinical Supervisor of the Safe Haven Transitional Centre, Chonda T. Jeffers told this news site that some persons with severe mental health issues cannot usually transition back into society and as such they will remain in the care of the Government.

“The Ministry of Health and Social Development would try to identify a long term facility here in the BVI that they could go to as the help that they need we would not be able to provide it as it is long term care,” said Jeffers.

While the Centre has the capacity for 16 persons, there are currently 9 in house clients and two community clients who do not sleep at the Centre but come daily to benefit from the support services.

The Centre looks at persons in the community who are at risk of becoming homeless because of some circumstance or other.

Larger scope, larger budget

Donovan said that with the change in scope the Safe Haven Transitional Centre now has a larger budget than when it was the Sandy Lane Centre. However, she was not prepared to say what that budget was.

The change from Sandy Lane Centre to Safe Haven Transitional Centre took effect from January 2, 2015. “Since then the Centre has been doing well...we have been able to transition people back into society with regards to employment and things like that,” she said.

Donovan added that feedback is important and as such the staff of the facility have meetings with employers to see how the former clients are holding up. “Once they leave here, they are not on their own...we follow up with them for six months,” said Donovan.

In terms of staffing strength, she said the Centre currently has four Programme Aides who deal with the clients and their training in addition to Jeffers who is a trained counsellor and Donovan herself who is a social worker by training.

“Our hope is for the stigma to be removed when it comes to mental health and the homeless. Because people fall into situations that could make them homeless and it might not have anything to do with mental illness or drugs,” said Jeffers.

Further, they are hoping that people and businesses in the community donate more towards the work that is being done. They also are looking forward to more family involvement in their efforts towards returning clients to society.

Donovan said clients are not just confined to the inside of the centre but they tend to a garden from which produce is sold to One Mart Supermarket and also they take trips to sister islands and places on Tortola as part of their recovery, including social and sports events.

15 Responses to “Stop stigmatising the homeless & mentally ill – Chonda T. Jeffers”

  • pat (22/04/2016, 08:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wish you all the best!
  • Expat (22/04/2016, 08:57) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Stop stigmatizing local people and expats too.
  • resident (22/04/2016, 09:24) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    we don't stigmatize them we are just tired of having them ask us for money every time they meet us on the streets
  • just asking... (22/04/2016, 09:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    so when they going get yellow and that other fat guy off the streets?
  • You gotta dolla (22/04/2016, 09:50) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I had a conversation with a homeless man the other day after he asked me for a dollar. I told him he should go down to mental health to see if they could help him. After speaking with him I understood his situation and I felt sorry for him but it's very difficult to not stigmatize people that don't want to help themselves.

    With persons like Yellow and Andy, i would not stigmatize because I can obviously see that they are trying to become a better person. But the homeless that doesn't try to make become a better person, I feel like I have no choice but to stigmatize as a means of protecting them from using the dollar I gave them to continue on the same path they are going.

    However, if I can see them willing to help themselves I would be will to let go of my stigma.
  • unknown (22/04/2016, 13:37) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why are there negative review on this . Come on people we need to act better and understand and be grateful . that atleast we know there is someone that is out there trying to do good with the mentally ill people . we also have to understand that some are a bit difficult and challenging so they might come and beg for a little something but treat them good . cause who are we to judge . this is a nice article of Safe haven and I wish you bout success in the progress.
  • BOV (22/04/2016, 13:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yellow doesnt live on the streets. She lives in that same centre.
  • Joc (22/04/2016, 13:54) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yellow doing good. She looks clean and you can tell she is being taken care of.
  • Loving the Poor (22/04/2016, 16:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    God is on the side of the poor and we especially those who are Christians should be on their side for for them as well. I love the poor and the less fortunate and always do what I can to help. Yes some of them ask for money to support their drug habit etc. so I always use wisdom where that is concern but I never turn my back on the poor why? Becuase whenever I see them or see that they need help I would ask ?what would Jesus do? Would He turn His back on them and frown upon them or would He help? We have an obligation to the poor and the less forunate regardless of whether or not they ended up where they are because of personal choices. Let us be more compassionate today the less fortunate. What if they were us and we were them?
  • Loving the Poor (22/04/2016, 16:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good team. These two ladies are not only passionate about their jobs but actually love the residents of the Centre. If only we as a sociaety could get involved and chip in financially and contribute to the work of the Centre and assist the residents who are less fortunate. Keep up the good work Jackie and Chonda.
  • VG (22/04/2016, 16:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Kudos for the efforts
  • Don't (24/04/2016, 17:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I never look down on the homeless because we are one paycheck away from being homeless ourselves. I always try to help the homeless by giving them used clothes, water, something to eat or anyway that I can. Honestly, it hurt my heart to see another human suffering.


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