Supportive housing services for underserved communities, with a preference for rural and frontier communities to serve people with behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse disorders who have been involved with the criminal justice system, and programs to build statewide capacity for accessing supportive housing services.
The Legislative Oversight Committee on the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. By passing this bill, the Division Of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs (division) will be able to establish and expand programs to build the capacity of communities across the state. Individuals with behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless or who have contact with the criminal or juvenile justice systems will receive supportive housing services, including:
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Providing training and technical assistance to communities to develop and implement supportive housing programs for people with behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorders, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and in contact with the criminal justice or juvenile justice systems. In order for the program to be successful, it must be targeted at communities that are currently unable to access state and federal support for supportive housing.
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Establishing a predevelopment grant program that provides funding to entities working to develop supportive housing interventions for individuals with behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and have come into contact with the criminal or juvenile justice system. A grant can be used to add new or additional staff capacity for the development and implementation of such programs. Rural and frontier communities must be prioritized as well as recipients of technical assistance provided by the division. Behavioral health services of the department of human services must be consulted when implementing the grant.
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The establishment of a supportive housing services and homelessness prevention grant program. Grants can be used to cover the costs of supportive housing services that are currently not covered by the state’s medical assistance program. The project can also be used to prevent homelessness for individuals with psychological, mental, or substance use disorders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and have a criminal history. Grant recipients must receive hands-on technical assistance from the division and applications from rural and frontier communities must be prioritized. In order to implement the grant, the division must consult with the office of behavioral health.
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Enhancing participation in regional homeless data systems, supporting accurate data reporting, and assessing housing-related needs. By working with regional continuums of care, the division can determine how to increase participation in data systems in communities across the state, identify the technical needs and associated costs, and collaborate with the office of behavioral health and other stakeholders to create an integrated user interface for housing and supportive services data systems. Additionally, the state must provide better information about best practices and training materials.
PRIME SPONSORS
Senator
Pete Lee
Representative
Judy Amabile
