|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
|
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
|
Health Department
|
|
|
DATE:
|
October 23,2008
|
BOARD MEETING DATE:
|
November 18, 2008
|
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
|
None
|
VOTE REQUIRED:
|
Majority
|
|
|
TO:
|
Honorable Board of Supervisors
|
|
|
|
FROM:
|
Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department
|
|
|
Louise Rogers, Director, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
|
|
|
|
SUBJECT:
|
Mental Health Services Act Housing Program Assignment Letter to California Housing Finance Authority
|
|
|
|
RECOMMENDATION:
|
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to accept and approve submission of an Assignment Letter authorizing the State Department of Mental Health to transfer the Mental Health Services Act Housing Program planning estimate funds to the California Housing Finance Authority on behalf of San Mateo County.
|
|
|
VISION ALIGNMENT:
|
Commitment: Offer a full range of housing choices.
|
Goal 9: Housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families.
|
|
|
Acceptance and approval of this Assignment Letter to California Housing Finance Authority (CalHFA) contributes to this commitment and goal by securing access to Mental Health Services Act Housing Program funding to provide permanent supportive housing for seriously mentally ill persons who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and their families.
|
|
|
Performance Measure:
|
Measure
|
|
FY 2009-10
Projected
|
Number of supported housing units developed and occupied by MHSA eligible clients and their families.
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
BACKGROUND:
|
In November of 2004 California voters approved Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which includes a Housing Program component. The goal of the Housing Program is the creation of 10,000 additional units of permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Housing Program will be administered jointly by CalHFA and the State Department of Mental Health (DMH). Housing Program application requirements were developed in collaboration with the California Mental Health Directors Association and other stakeholders, and were released by the State in August of 2007. Under those requirements project proposals may be submitted jointly by the County and selected housing developers for the development of housing with supportive services. Proposals will be reviewed and approved by the State on a project-by-project basis.
|
|
|
DISCUSSION:
|
In order to access Housing Program funds, and to be allowed to submit project proposals, the County must submit a signed Assignment Letter to CalHFA. The Letter states the County’s agreement to participate in the MHSA Housing Program within the established requirements, and allows for the transfer of the San Mateo County MHSA Housing Program allocation from DMH to CalHFA.
|
|
|
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is working in collaboration with the Department of Housing and the Human Services Agency's Shelter Services Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE) Plan staff to plan and implement the MHSA Housing Program. This Program has an initial funding distribution of $6,762,000 for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010, of which a maximum of $2,540,000 can be used for operating subsidies. The remainder of the funding must be used for new construction or renovation of permanent housing. These funds will be used to leverage other affordable housing financing sources, thus maximizing the number of units that can be provided. The goal for this funding is to produce 35 supported housing units for MHSA-eligible clients and their families.
|
|
|
As required by MHSA guidelines, the Assignment Letter was released for a 30-day public comment period by the Mental Health Board on April 2nd, 2008. No comment was received. The Assignment Letter has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel.
|
|
|
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
The MHSA Housing Program component funding is $6,762,000 for a three-year period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010. There is no designated amount for any specific fiscal year. There is no Net County Cost associated with this action. It is not known at this time if additional MHSA Housing funds will be made available in the future.
|