Senator Saland Secures Funding For Renovation Of Mental Health Building

Senator Steve Saland (R,C Poughkeepsie) was recognized today by the Mental Health Association in Dutchess County (MHADC) for securing a $250,000 state grant to renovate a building in the City of Poughkeepsie which will be used as its new central offices. The building at 253 Mansion Street is a former manufacturing building and will be used to consolidate the current administrative and staffing offices for MHADC.

"I would like to thank Senator Saland for sponsoring this $250,000 grant that will be awarded through the Empire State Development Corporation," said Jacki Brownstein, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Dutchess County. "A few years ago it became clear to our Board and administration that in order to contain costs and deal with ever rising rents, we would need to purchase a building consolidating two of our main staffing and administrative offices. To not do so would make it difficult to maintain our staffing and program levels - and force us to reduce staff and essential services to the community. However, with the help of Senator Saland and other funding sources, we will now be able to invest more resources in staffing and consequently increase services for the people who need help the most."

The MHADC provides mental health care services directly to the people in the communities they live, work and receive treatment in. The staff utilize the MHA's central offices as a hub where they do their administrative work and get their training and supervision. In addition, all the fiscal operations, the grant writing, and the personnel management are provided from those offices.

"I am pleased that this grant will spare the Mental Health Association of Dutchess County from the threat of having to reduce services to accommodate overhead. The Mental Health Association is a vital resource for our community providing invaluable services to those with mental health needs," said Senator Saland. "This building will enable staff and administration to consolidate services in order to better support those they serve. I am proud to be able to assist their efforts."