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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Restoration Center in San Antonio offers an |
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innovative approach to treating homeless individuals who are |
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experiencing severe mental illness or addiction; and |
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WHEREAS, Created through the hard work and vision of area |
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leaders, the Restoration Center provides a noteworthy alternative |
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to hospitalization or incarceration; and |
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WHEREAS, This unique social service organization has reduced |
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inappropriate incarceration of people with mental illness and |
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substance abuse problems, eased the overcrowding of emergency rooms |
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and hospital beds, and reduced victimization of the homeless; and |
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WHEREAS, Substantial benefits were accrued within the first |
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180 days of its operation; homeless men and women diverted from area |
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jails saved taxpayers more than $750,000 and forgoing admissions to |
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the municipal court detention area saved government expenditures |
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totaling more than $2.5 million; an additional $700,000 was saved |
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in this short interval as law enforcement brought people to the |
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Restoration Center instead of to hospital emergency rooms prior to |
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incarceration; and |
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WHEREAS, The Restoration Center provides a model for all |
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communities seeking a public safety net to restore lives and ease |
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the suffering of citizens who are ill and vulnerable; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Restoration Center in San Antonio and |
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commend all those associated with the development of this important |
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project; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Restoration Center as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |