NORWICH – Catholic Charities of Chenango County will receive an influx of about $47,000 to keep those suffering from mental illness in their homes and out of psychiatric centers in New York.

The state aid will flow to Catholic Charities through a long-standing contract with Chenango County Community Mental Hygiene Services to provide supported housing. The funds are available to qualified individuals for rent and security deposits, furniture, household basics and minor repairs, such as ramps.

A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors this month stated that the amount equated to a total of six additional beds. Mental Hygiene already contracts with the not-for-profit for 22 beds.

Catholic Charities Director Jane Coddington said later, however, that the amount of beds doesn’t actually correlate to individuals.

“It’s just terminology,” she said, explaining that in 2008, Catholic Charities had 44 beds funded directly by the New York State Office of Mental Health (some of which were operated by the agency) and that number translated into serving 1,183 people.