LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Winter nights can be particularly harsh for those in Louisville living without a home, forced to try to find comfort out in the elements. As Louisville leaders discuss providing temporary shelter for the homeless, staff at one local nonprofit say more longterm solutions should be considered. Wellspring works to get homeless into houses, and now also offers mental health help. 

• City leaders in Louisville are working toward temporary housing for the homeless. 
• Wellspring is one nonprofit that offers housing help and now mental health help for those living on the streets and facing a lack of access to treatment.
• The hotline for help is (502)589-4313.

With grant money, Wellspring has bought its own housing units, and also works with landlords to lease houses to those that need them. Since the organization was founded in the '80s, they claim to have helped some 10,000 people. Now, counselors will also help those that walk-in and need mental help. There are also group therapy sessions. Staff find there's often a link between living on the streets, and a lack of access to mental health treatment.

“Our ultimate goal is to see people with mental illness recover. Our goal is to help people put their lives back together, to have full lives, and we like to see people have housing, be part of the community,” CEO Kathy Dobbins says. “When you’re homeless, you tend to be alienated from mainstream society. And that’s hard- or near impossible- to recover when you’re an outsider. People want to be part of the fabric of the community.” 

Wellspring has about 300 people living in their homes in Louisville currently. There's a hotline for mental health counseling, too: 502-589-4313.