“La esperanza nunca debe atrasarse.”
“Hope should never be deferred.”
For years the Pinal Hispanic Council (PHC) had to defer building a new behavioral health clinic in Eloy, Arizona. They couldn’t afford to fund it.
But they never deferred hope.
With mariachis grooving in the background, council officials recently cut the ribbon to officially open their new behavioral health facility. They did it with the help of a Recovery Act loan from USDA.
Helping celebrate the event were elected officials, community activists, clients, and representatives from USDA Rural Development.
The facility is large…and so was the crowd!
The new 8,200 square foot building is an impressive addition to this small Arizona community that has been hard hit by the economic down turn.
PHC offers behavioral health services to all individuals in need. Their mission is to make services culturally competent and reflective of the needs of the community.
Their old buildings were cramped and inefficient. As the economic downturn brought more people in need to their doors, the staff was struggling to be able to find space to meet with and serve their clients. Demand had increased by 40 percent over the past five years and, with no other facilities in the area, PHC’s needs were growing exponentially.
Ayuda…help came in the form of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loan through USDA Rural Development. The loan, which PHC will pay back over a 40 year period, built a complex large enough to serve the needs of current clients and allow for future growth.
Pinal Hispanic Council offers treatment for depression, anxiety, grief, eating disorders, OCD, alcohol and drug abuse and dependency, anger management, family conflicts and domestic violence, children behavioral problems, gender identity, and HIV/Aids issues. This Recovery Act project created or saved 25 jobs.
“When folks ask me if the stimulus did anything for rural Arizona, this PHC facility is the best affirmative answer I can give,” said Arizona Rural Development State Director Alan Stephens. “The work PHC does is so important, the people they touch so deserving, and the staff so dedicated. Their hope was the catalyst for our help. It is a confirmation of how powerful hope can be in positive change. It’s heartwarming.”
The crowd, including many members of the community at large, feasted on food provided by Michael and Nancy Jackson, listened to the mariachis, toured the facility, talked with old friends. The struggle of the past few years to get to such a point seemed long ago.
“Todas las cosas son faciles que se hacen de buena gana”…all things are easy that are done willingly!
To learn how USDA Community Facilities Programs can assist your rural town, click here.
