LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Next week, the Little Rock directors are expected to vote on more work going into crime reduction programs.
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. first started this initiative a couple of years ago and some organizations have already been seeing progress.
Two years ago, Our House applied for grant funding to help with reducing violence in Little Rock. That money has since gone towards addressing mental health.
"We know that mental health and homelessness are paired together and how can we work collaboratively to meet those mental health needs," said Carline Robbins, Our House Development Director.
With that funding, they have been able to hire additional staff to work with adults and children, as well as have the opportunity to work outside of normal hours.
"Team members actually meet clients where they're at. So, we have night programming where our clients have access to or can sit with somebody who is a licensed professional," said Robbins.
Since Our House has started this work they began planning to expand their campus to help dozens more people. Families or individuals can have living arrangements, career guidance, mental health resources, and children's education.
Next Tuesday, Little Rock directors will decide if they want to continue these services for Our House and for two other organizations.
Those other organizations are UAMS Project Heal and Restore Hope.
The contract extensions will be about $600,000 in total.