ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- CASA Trinity had an official grand opening with a ribbon cutting for its Mental Health Outpatient Clinic. CASA Trinity's Mental Health Outpatient Clinic on West Water Street opened in late December and offers services like screening, diagnosis, individual and group therapy, and more.

"Our Outpatient Mental Health Program is designed to meet increasing needs in Chemung County and will provide essential access to community-based mental health treatment," said CASA Trinity CEO, Ann Domingos.

Domingos said in the first three weeks the W. Water St. location was open, they were able to help 73 people. She said it's important for people to have options when it comes to getting help.

"As we know, [once people can] stabilize their mental health, whether it's depression or something [else], their families and the communities can stabilize. They're able to live their lives without as much disruption," said Domingos.

The W. Water St. location is temporary because a new and permanent facility is being built. The new CASA Trinity location would be a mental health clinic with long-term stay options.

"We will have a mental health clinic but it will be in conjunction with some other programs we are [working on.] We're also going to be able to offer crisis beds for [people] with SUD (substance use disorders). It's a residential program and the length of stay is up to three months. [There] will be 24 beds and [people] can come in who just need a little bit longer to stabilize for their SUD needs. The program will help [people] get on their feet [and] refer them to whatever outpatient program they would want to go to...It's a great need because there are a lot of [people] who just need a little bit of extra help," said Domingos.

Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell said Elmira needs more mental health clinics for those who need it, especially the homeless.

"We know we have a homeless population right now [and] most of them are suffering from mental illness. This door is now open, where these people can come in and get help. It helps them get counseling, steered in the right direction, to help them get on with their lives so they can become contributing members of our community. We know mental health can be debilitating [and] it can lead to them not only having a mental health problem, but a substance abuse and alcohol problem. These types of places help people get on their feet, off the street, [and] helps them if they are in crisis," said Mandell.

Domingos said they plan to open the future residential treatment facility in about a year to a year and a half. The new CASA Trinity would be located on Judson Street.

CASA Trinity on W. Water St. is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-in clinic hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.