New walk-in mental health crisis center receives grant for improvements

To be eligible for block grant funding, at least 51 percent of the people benefitting from CMH’s walk-in services must be low- to moderate-income individuals — according to 2018 numbers supplied by a city news release announcing the grant, 85 percent of CMH patients met those criteria.

The block development grant money will be used to replace the roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for the walk-in center at 300 N. Cascade Ave.

Ed Hagins, chief operations officer for CMH, said these repairs are critical, as is the center’s partnership with the city in securing the grant funding.

Other entities and individuals have raised about $1.6 million in furtherance of the crisis stabilization unit. These include the Colorado Health Foundation, Denver Foundation, CHA Fund, El Pomar Foundation and the Montrose Community Foundation.

The Center for Mental Health held a grand opening celebration at the new clinic site in April. It is awaiting final approvals from city and state agencies in order to occupy the building, which is not expected to occur before the end of the month, or later.