Project conception: May 2007
The California Institute for Mental Health (CiMH) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) together are working with the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) to provide statewide training and technical assistance for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program. The planned activities are designed to support the development of supportive housing with services that support resiliency, recovery, and wellness in a culturally and linguistically competent and consumer and family member driven system. The activities also promote collaboration with other local resources to provide this valuable service for those who have a mental illness and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The philosophy of empowerment and recovery and the understanding that people with mental illness can and do recover, are key elements to the implementation of MHSA. Specifically, the MHSA mandates a culturally competent, recovery and resiliency oriented service delivery system responsive to the increasing diversity of California’s communities. One of the critical services necessary for recovery for those with a mental illness, who are also homeless, is housing.
The partnership between CiMH and CSH is vital to the successful implementation of the MHSA Housing Program. While CSH brings much of the housing expertise and relationships with housing entities; CiMH brings extensive knowledge of each county’s mental health services and has critical relationships with county mental health leadership.
MHSA 2011 UPDATE: Per the terms of the MHSA Term Sheet, each year, the maximum MHSA Capital Loan limits and the Capitalized Operating Subsidy Reserve (COSR) limits, per unit, increases by 4%. For 2011, these limits have increased from $108,160 to $112,486 per unit.
Counties may submit new MHSA funding proposals that request MHSA Capital Loan funding up to a maximum of $112,486.00 per MHSA regulated unit; with requests of up to $112,486.00 in COSR funds per MHSA regulated unit.
MHSA funding requests in excess of the allowable per unit loan or COSR limits will require a Waiver Request from the County that is subject to review and approval by CalHFA.
General questions regarding training and technical assistance can be sent via email to
CiMH contact person:
Donna Matthews
Project Manager
916.556.3480, ext. 153
dmatthews@cimh.org