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Construction of Transitional Living Center underway
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Posted on May 03 2000
The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation Board of Directors, through its chair, Juan S. Tenorio, announces the awarding of the construction contract for the Transitional Living Center, a community facility funded jointly by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the Community Development Block Grant and local appropriation from the CNMI.
The NMHC, as the administering agency of the CDBG Program and in conjunction with HUD, has allocated $400,000 of CDBG funds for the project. The Commonwealth Legislature has appropriated $600,000 as matching funds for the construction and management of the project. The NMHC and the Community Guidance Center have been working closely to make the project possible. With the assistance of Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, the local funds needed to fully fund the project was identified and appropriated.
The TLC will serve as halfway home for mentally-challenged patients who have been institutionalized and are rehabilitated where they could move out of an institutional setting and eventually live independently. The facility is a first in the Commonwealth.
There is a tremendous need for such a facility to house several recovering mentally-challenged patients who are ready to gradually resume independent living. Presently mental health patients who are either severely or moderately ill, share the same facility. The facility will have two double room and six single rooms with private bathrooms and common kitchen, dining, recreation and family areas. It will also have staff and doctor’s offices for their caretakers, a family counseling room and prayer room.
The Community guidance Center will primarily operate the facility and provide the necessary services to move the clients housed in the facility to independent living. With a successful operation of the facility, the Commonwealth will get to see more recovery of mentally-challenged clients reintegrated back into the community to lead a productive life.
