Purpose, Activities, and Accomplishments
Origins: The Brain Foundation (TBF) was established by Trudy Harsh in 2003 in order to educate the public about brain diseases and provide housing for those afflicted by brain diseases. With the help of many professionally talented and devoted members on the Board of Directors, TBF obtained IRS certification as a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization and the State of Virginia recognizes it as a charitable organization authorized to solicit contributions for its activities. Trudy is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of TBF. She also is:
- Realtor – 1977-Present; Associate Broker, Long and Foster Realty – Current;
- Former member and President of the Northwest Center Mental Health Advisory Board – 1990-96;
- Member, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Residential Housing Committee – 1990-98;
- Appointed Sully District Representative to the Fairfax - Falls Church Community Services Board – 2001-Present;
- Member, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Mental Health Committee – 2001-Present;
- Member, NAMI; formerly known as the National Association for the Mentally Ill – 1990-Present;
- Founder and President, Friends of Rock Hill, a mental health residential facility – 1991-96;
- Recipient, United Way In My Back Yard (IMBY) Award -- 1996;
- Principal supporter of the existing Stephenson House in Fairfax and principal proponent for building two more such houses -- 2008;
- Recipient, Nancy McDonald Beyer Exemplary Community Service Award -- 2005;
- Commendation, the Virginia House of Delegates – 2006;
- Recipient, Volunteer Service Award for working with Persons with Disabilities by Volunteer Fairfax – 2008;
- Recipient, Joshua Steven Collins Award of Excellence by NAMI-VA – 2008.
Mission: TBF enables those who are afflicted with serious and persistent brain diseases to live in dignity and safety within communities that respond to them with recognition, acceptance, protection, healing, and opportunity.
There is no clear line of division between the mind and the body. No one of us has been spared at least occasional and mild disorder in our brain. But serious and persistent brain disease such as schizophrenia, bipolar disease and depression are chronic, disruptive, devastating and even deadly to those who suffer and tragic and costly to families who suffer with them. Brain diseases occur no less frequently than disease in other organs of the human body but it is more misunderstood, more feared, and more neglected.
Although there is still so much to learn about causes and solutions, serious and persistent brain diseases are treatable and manageable. When provided the best of our knowledge and resources, the vast majority of people who suffer can live fulfilled lives, participating in and contributing to their families and communities. In those few cases where current medical treatment is not effective, alleviation of the consequences of disease are still possible, effective and obligatory.
TBF is comprised of people who accept an obligation to educate, advocate, alleviate, and collaborate in the world of the complex, challenging reality of mental illness (brain diseases). They diligently collect, organize, and disburse a wide array of resources to do effective, concrete work for and with those who have serious and persistent brain diseases.
TBF provides affordable housing, improves public education, and enables social integration for those afflicted with brain diseases. Such individuals often live on Social Security Disability Insurance and cannot afford to pay more than 1/3 of the commercial rents for safe and adequate housing. TBF is committed to providing up to $25,000 per house annually to subsidize the remainder of these costs. With inflation and debt reduction, these homes will become self sustaining
Financing Affordable Housing: The establishment of the first “Laura’s House at Wilcoxson” in November 2006 opened several avenues of support. On June 6, 2007, TBF received a $50,000 Northern Virginia Regional Grant. It supported the opening of “Laura’s House Layton Hall” in November 2007. In December 2007, the Philip Graham Fund provided a $40,000 grant to provide a down payment on a foreclosure property in June 2008. It was refurbished and ready to rent in August 2008. It was named “Laura’s House at King Edward I”. In September 2008, TBF was certified by Fairfax County as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and became eligible for HOME funds through HUD. These are zero interest loans with no payments. In December 2008, a second foreclosure property was purchased as “Laura’s House at King Edward II.” All of these homes have been beautifully furnished with donated items and donated services. Pathway Homes, Inc., which has experienced social workers, is selecting the brain diseased men and women residents and managing their care.
While the challenge of sustaining the unfunded costs of this operation is great, TBF expects continued contributions to be forthcoming. The 2009 United way of the National Capital Area campaign designated $1,100 to TBF. It has been approved to participate in the 2010 United Way as #8594 and the Combined Federal Campaign as #56716. The 2010 designations are expected to be substantially greater because fundraising campaign letters will be sent from the Board of Directors to friends and business associates explaining the merits of designating funds to TBF.
In June 2009, TBF was notified that the United Way of the National Capital Area would provide a $20,000 grant in quarterly installments for subsidizing the rental costs at Laura’s Houses. In addition, TBF has been approved for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development (HUD) rental subsidy assistance. This assistance, for up to 10 years on two of its houses, based on the resident’s low incomes and their inability to pay fair market rental rates. One house has already begun such subsidies and another is expected to receive them in January 2010. In June 2009, TBF was provided a waiver of real estate taxes by Fairfax City as a non profit providing social services. TBF will request a similar waiver from Fairfax County. These annual contributions, grants, no payment loans, waivers and HUD’s rental subsidy assistance will be supplemented from the reserves, if necessary, and sustain the Laura’s Houses into perpetuity. TBF has a policy of targeting about two years of reserve funding before purchasing another home. Currently, TBF has about $90,000 of reserve funding.
Addressing needs of those who suffer from Brain Diseases: TBF provides help to individuals who are disabled and disadvantaged as a consequence of brain-based diseases. Its initial and primary focus is the needs of the population within that group who suffer from serious and persistent mental disease such as bi-polar disease, schizophrenia and chronic or major depression. TBF is dedicated to providing and promoting substantial increases in the availability, quality and effectiveness of a broad range of assistance so that such individuals may live in dignity and safety within communities that respond to them with respect, acceptance, protection, healing and opportunity.
TBF directs most of its net resources to providing affordable housing and the remainder to public education and social integration. Hundreds of thousands of mentally ill Americans who, prior to the mid-1950s, would have received treatment in medical institutions have been relegated to the unfulfilled promise of adequate community-based treatment and support.
All too often, people who should be receiving medical treatment in appropriate environments are instead homeless or in prison. Estimates from sources such as The National Institute for Mental Health and advocacy groups such as NAMI estimate that more than fifty percent of homeless individuals have a brain-based disease. A 200 page report released October 9, 2007, by Virginia’s General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission concluded that after four decades of emptying the mental wards of its state hospitals, jails now house more people with mental illness than state and private hospitals combined. The June 2009 issue of Psychiatric Services showed that the prevalence of people with serious mental illness in jails is increasing. It found that overall, 16% of jail inmates have a serious mental illness. Even more alarming, 31% of female jail inmates have a serious mental illness. Currently, there are over 500 mentally ill people on waiting lists for housing in Fairfax County.
A person who received SSI benefits in 2008 lives on $637.00 a month; yet, in Fairfax, Virginia average monthly rents exceed $1000.00. Recent major cuts to state and local funding have exacerbated an already severe shortage of subsidized housing and the number of ill and needy people with nowhere to go is a national disgrace. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania proved that it costs society no more to house and treat an ill individual than it does to leave him or her untreated or inadequately treated and on the streets or in jail. TBF intends to replace such conditions with safe and stable housing.
Supporting health care needs; social integration; day care and employment opportunities; legal services; and, promoting human rights: The remainder of TBF’s resources will be devoted to alleviating the many challenges that adversely affect people with brain-based disorders.
The need for adequate counseling and pharmacological treatment for psychological disorders and adequate and effective treatment for other healthcare needs such as dental care is pervasive. One recent study demonstrates that, over a three year period, the cost of one group of anti-psychotic medications increased 192 percent.
The recent Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health states: “Stigmatization of people with mental disorders has actually increased since the 1950’s. Stigmatization leads others to avoid living, socializing or working with, renting to, or employing people with mental disorders. It reduces patients’ access to resources and opportunities and leads to low self-esteem, isolation, and hopelessness. It deters the public from seeking, and wanting to pay for their care. It deprives patients of their dignity and interferes with their full participation in society.”
TBF addresses these requirements by directly supporting other programs that provide health care services, mentoring, counseling, education, recreation, day programs, employment, and human rights advocacy. It has been using some of the funds to support other organization’s activities related to improving the quality of life for those afflicted by brain diseases.
TBF is a strong proponent of the need for Fairfax County to provide two more Stephenson type houses. It has provided leadership on how to organize and manage affordable housing for the brain diseased. Dave’s House in Fairfax is one example. An organization in Roanoke has asked for technical assistance too. In addition, various local NAMI organizations have asked TBF to provide information on their business model in order that they could emulate our approach to providing housing for those with brain diseases. And, the Brain Foundation of Central Florida is using our organizational model.
TBF is continuing to sponsor Friday Night Socials; 28 were held annually since 2006. About twelve brain diseased people have attended each event. TBF served dinner and entertained the guests by playing cards, Bocce ball, listening to musicians, singing songs and entering interesting discussions.
Program Performance Evaluation: Dr. Katherine Newcomer, Associate Director of The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, George Washington University assisted The Brain Foundation in evaluating its performance as judged by the low income beneficiaries of its services. The statistical results follow:
The respondents indicated that some had waited very long periods before finding a home – 1/6 had waited more than a year; 1/6 had waited more than 5 years; and 1/6 had waited more than 10 years. Only 1/6 had waited a few weeks or less. The respondents reported that 25% had been living with their parents, 58% had been living with other relatives and only one had come directly from an institution.
While 42% of the respondents found no reason to suggest improvements in the houses, the other 58% did make suggestions such as the need for a doorbell, icemaker, tighter front door or less noise after 11pm. Other respondents wanted to just continue to let them get along as they were, to continue to have an open mind regarding their thoughts and valued their freedom.
The respondents to the survey rated the comfort of the homes very high as 4.8 out of possible 5. They rated whether the house was supportive to getting well very high as 4.8 out of a possible 5. One of the women became well enough to hold permanent employment and has recently moved to an unsubsidized apartment. She will be replaced by another very low income mentally ill woman. They rated their fellow housemates as 4.4 out of a possible 5. This information was shared with Pathway Homes so that they could improve the housemate’s relationships.
In addition to the information provided in this program evaluation, The Brain Foundation has encouraged residents to participate in the Friday Night Socials which are held for May through August. Various residents have assisted in TBF activities such as moving furniture, rearranging furnishings for the new houses for other residents, installing shrubs and other ornamental gardening features. Other residents have discussed their personal benefits of living in Laura’s Houses such as the reception given by the Reston Circle of Hope. Residents often call Trudy Harsh with questions about taking care of their houses or needs for repair and maintenance. One resident’s mother has taken an over sight role to assist the residents of his house. TBF is looking for volunteers to become house mothers and maintenance chiefs at each of the four houses.
For a separate exercise, we found that the mentally ill residents which Pathway Homes selects as residents in Laura’s Houses provided by The Brain Foundation are very low income – averaging only $797/ month or about $38,000 for a family of four; largely supported by Social Security Disability Insurance payments. Their average rent is $243/ month. Five of these very low income residents are on the Board of Directors.
