Operation Nightwatch’s Mental Health Initiative continues to be an essential part of our services as we move forward following the global pandemic. We are fortunate to return to full indoor service where we can provide hospitality services and do our best work.  Kolin has continued to provide free individual counseling sessions to interested guests as well as crisis intervention when needed. He also provides individual support to guests outside of service hours in person, via phone, email, and text messaging for our guests who need an alternative way to access his services. 

Beginning January of 2021, we introduced another major addition to our Mental Health Initiative: a program funded by a generous grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust. Libby Allen, our previous Program Manager, created this program which provides mental health support to female identified and gender diverse guests. Libby created a safe welcoming environment that allows for more intimate and relaxed conversations, which have resulted in an increase in mutuality and guest motivation to change. In October of 2022, Susan, the current Program Manager, continues the group and helps provide a comfortable place for women and gender fluid guests. This program has been an amazing addition to our work and our mission.

The primary focus of our Mental Health Initiative continues to be cultivating and fostering relationships with our guests that are built on trust and consistency. As you can imagine, this was extremely challenging during the global pandemic and it not only made it incredibly difficult to maintain relationships, but also help those guests whose mental health and addiction issues have gotten exponentially worse. Over the past several years, we had already noticed a dramatic increase in substance use along with psychosis. The pandemic has significantly increased the number of guests struggling with these issues. We have also seen an increase in citywide violence with a high concentration in the downtown area. Those guests who do not struggle with substance use or significant mental health issues have self-reported an increase in anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and hypervigilance.

Our staff will continue to support our guests who are experiencing severe and persistent mental health issues, as well as those struggling with the hardships and stress of being houseless. Our guests know that every week our staff will be there for them, supporting everyone who comes to us just as they are, free from judgment and prejudice. Within these relationships, we get to know our guests as individuals, helping them to recognize their unique strengths that already reside within them. The positive psychological impact our Mental Health Initiative has on our guests can not be underestimated. We have found that when guests feel safe and cared for, they are more likely to embark on conversations about change, choices, and harm reduction.

At Operation Nightwatch, we believe everyone deserves to be seen and heard. We know our guests are more than their set of circumstances and stereotypes that can often bind them. For a few nights a week, we offer our guests a reprieve from the often curdling ebb and flow of life on the streets and hope that our Mental Health Initiative will help them to better face the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of being unhoused.

This page was updated on October 5th, 2021.