Hope on a Mission Helps Homeless and More (Aired on December 11, 2022)

              

Cara Mia Bacchiochi returns to RadioRotary to describe progress of Hope on a Mission, her continuing ministry to homeless Poughkeepsie women (and men), many also addicted to drugs or alcohol. Seven years ago, as she was once-again in jail, Cara Mia vowed to help street women, aware of their needs because she had been one. When she was out of jail, she borrowed a car, filled the trunk with bottles of water and parked at the corner of Main and South Clinton, one of the most traveled locations for street women and addicts in Poughkeepsie, handing out water to those who past. Since then every Saturday evening, sometimes in rain or snow, her the street ministry Hope on a Mission (HOAM) has served from that corner. Bacchiochi and volunteers, many from local Rotary clubs, distribute food, clothing, and personal care items, restoring dignity to the homeless and addicted. Those who are ready to change their lives are escorted to Dutchess County’s Stabilization Center or to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital (formerly St.Francis) for treatment. Since that first visit, Hope on a Mission has added a Saturday breakfast and dinners on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, a 20-passenger bus bringing help where it is needed, and a partnership in a thrift shop.

Learn More:
Hope on a Mission Website: https://www.hopeonamission.org/
Hope on a Mission HOAM Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hoampk/
Cara Mia Bacchiochi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carabacci
Stabilization Center: https://people-usa.org/program/crisis-stabilization-center/
Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital Chemical Dependency: https://www.midhudsonregional.org/alcohol-drug-dependency

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Making Affordable Housing Available (Aired on November 6, 2022)

          

RadioRotary interviews Christa Hines, CEO of Hudson River Housing, a vital service primarily in Dutchess County (but with a few facilities in nearby counties). For the past 40 years Hudson River Housing has worked to solve the housing problems of those who my face housing choices that would be more than 30% of their income, providing more than 1,500 units of affordable housing as well as a homeless shelter for those with no housing at all. Since the pandemic brought many new, relatively wealthy families out of the city or suburbs, the need for affordable housing in the region has increased—and Hudson River Housing has helped in several ways, not just with acquiring or building new units. Some of their programs include employment services, a drop-in center for youth, housing options for veterans, and senior housing services.

Learn More:
Hudson River Housing: https://hudsonriverhousing.org/
Poughkeepsie Housing Authority: http://www.poughkeepsiehousingauthority.org/
Housing and Homelessness in Mid-Hudson: https://mhvcommunityprofiles.org/housing/homeless-persons

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Mental Health Workers Aid Police (Aired July 25, 2021)

Behavior specialist Linwood Burke and mental health intensive care manager Lashaveous Dicker, now both aiding police in dealing with situations where strong emotions or mental-health issue are involved, are the workers assigned by Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) to help handle these dicey calls. Mr. Dicker is on every call that Beacon Police make, while Mr. Burke
travels with the police detail when mental-health issues are involved, and he also holds community workshops with the police. The MHA staff are in civilian clothes with a vest identifying them as mental-health auxiliaries so that people nervous about the police can relax. The program has been deemed a success, with the MHA staff able to get a troubled perpetrator to drop his knife and to persuade reluctant mentally ill to go to the hospital. Burke and Dicker are trained in techniques to help de-escalate conflicts.

Learn more:
Mental Health America of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/
Poughkeepsie Police Add Mental Health Worker: https://midhudsonnews.com/2020/08/27/poughkeepsie-police-add-mental-health-worker/
Beacon Police Add Mental Health Worker: https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/04/05/beacon-adds-mental-health-specialist-police-department/7084167002/
City of Poughkeepsie Police Department: https://cityofpoughkeepsie.com/police-department/
Beacon, NY, Police Department: https://www.beaconny.gov/index.php/departments/police/

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Cara Mia and Hope on a Mission (Aired on March 7, 2021)

Cara Mia Bacchiochi, recently featured on NBC’s Today Show, returns to RadioRotary to describe new efforts in her continuing ministry to Poughkeepsiewomen (and men) who are homeless and addicted to drugs or alcohol. For 5½ years she has been at the corner of Main and South Clinton every Saturday morning and evening, sometimes in rain or snow, with the street ministry Hope on a Mission (HOAM). Bacchiochi and volunteers, many from local Rotary clubs, distribute food, clothing, and personal care items, restoring dignity to the homeless and addicted. Now, starting in March 2021, Hope on a Mission is adding a Tuesday night dinner in front of 690 Main Street in Poughkeepsie, a couple of blocks east of the Saturday night event, which also continues. Ms. Bacchiochi has “street cred” herself from life on the street in the 1980s. Periods of sobriety were interrupted by relapses until found herself in 2013 in the same jail cell she had occupied in 1990. While there, she recognized that her purpose in life is to help women with lives like hers. After she was released from jail that last time, she started Hope on a Mission. Check out the website which has opportunities to volunteer or donate—and if you have not seen it before, watch The Today Show interview.

Learn more:
Hope on a Mission Website: https://www.hopeonamission.org/
Hope on a Mission HOAM Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hoampk/
Cara Mia Bacchiochi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carabacci
Cara Mia Bacchiochi on The Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/how-1-woman-in-recovery-found-her-mission-to-support-others-100460613922

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