Ph.D. student's grant to fund mental health services for homeless

Tendai Masiriri, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. program doctoral student and executive director at Heartside Ministry in Grand Rapids, has received a $100,000 grant from the Wege Foundation to provide behavioral health counseling services to the homeless population in the Heartside community of Grand Rapids.

The successful application to Wege Foundation was Masiriri's required grant comprehensive exam (CE-3), a requirement for completing the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences in the College of Health and Human Services at WMU. The grant will fund a new art therapy program at Heartside Ministry.

"We use art therapy because research has shown that it works for homeless populations with histories of mental health and substance abuse issues," says Masiriri. "Art therapy reduces the stigma of accessing mental health care, while reducing resistance to treatment in a population that is very much averse to traditional forms of therapy."

According to Masiriri, 7-10 percent of Kent County residents report some occurrence of mental health issues. In the Heartside community, that number is closer to 34 percent. "Of course we want to thank the Wege Foundation for recognizing that disparity and the need in our community," he says. 

The Wege Foundation accepts grant applications that address five basic areas of interest to the foundation -- education, environment, arts & culture, health care and community service. Grants are awarded twice a year.

Masiriri said that the program has already kicked off with a pilot group of clients. He expects the program will be fully operating by mid-2018.

About Heartside Ministry

Heartside Ministry began in 1983 as a small outreach to the homeless and disenfranchised people of the street. It is a relationship-based social service agency that has enjoyed the support and guidance of community members and other organizations for over 30 years.