ASC Club House program

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless approximately 20 - 25% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness. Many of these individuals are unable to manage everyday life without some sort of management, such as an assisting living facility for example.

Austin Street Centre offers those clients diagnosed with a mental or emotional disorder participation in the daily Club House program. Here the clients participate in a structured program that provides meaningful activities as well as education and training in the skills of daily living.

Various activities throughout the day include art therapy classes, movie and book discussions, self esteem exercises, the importance of keeping up with prescribed medication and scheduled meetings with our in house psychiatrist.

Several years ago the “Austin Street Pilgrims” choir emerged from the Club House program. Today the choir performs regularly for organizations and entertains at functions throughout the DFW metroplex.

Many of our clients learn to understand through this program and the constant positive nurturing that it is not their fault that they suffer from a disease they have no control over and that there is no stigma attached to it. As the result over the years some have reconnected with family and friends with a better understanding of each other.

For some it is just a safe place to spend the day.