Welcome to Community Alternatives

In 1995, a small group of mental health professionals set out with one goal in mind:

To seek out and help those people who have been overlooked by mainstream services -- people with mental illness who find themselves homeless, drug dependent, in gripping poverty, and who feel as if the world has turned their back on them.

Over the past 14 years, Community Alternatives (CA) has been a leader in the mental health and social services fields.  CA has always sought to identify and serve the unique mental health needs brought to us by our community.  We have brought innovative and science-based services to people who are most in need, including survivors of state-sanctioned torture, youth at-risk in our court system, low-income parents of pre-school children, and others struggling with mental illness, homelessness, HIV, and substance abuse.  These community-based services (unlike institution-based services) allow for greater flexibility and comfort to help our St. Louis neighbors manage their mental illness and reach their potential in living independently and obtaining employment.

We offer a broad range of innovative and cost-effective services.  Our unique approach -- combining science and compassion -- works!  And, at a fraction of the cost of insitutional care.  Funding for our services comes from a variety of sources including federal, state, and local grants/contracts, private foundations, corporations, and generous individuals like you!

We hope you'll explore our website to learn more about us, read some of our stories, and discover ways to be involved in making a difference in the lives of those with mental illness.