Facility for Mentally Ill Shut on Weekends

The loss of a federal grant has forced Santa Monica’s primary provider of services to the homeless mentally ill to close its doors on weekends.

The day center at Step Up On Second, which provides counseling, vocational training and showers for recovering mentally ill people, was forced to cut back on its services when a $328,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor was not renewed for a third year. The loss of the grant has also forced the layoff of half the center’s 12-member staff.

The facility served about 250 patients on a typical weekend, officials said. Executive Director Susan Dempsay said the community will feel the impact of the weekend closings.

“If we did nothing but provide a shower and a shave and a sack lunch, we were taking some of the pressure off the community,” Dempsay said. “Panhandling will go up on weekends.”