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MHSA Housing Program

State Funding for Developing Permanent Supportive Housing for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness

Statewide, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program includes $75 million per year for the capital costs of permanent supportive housing for people with serious mental illness and their families that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, and $40 million per year for operating subsidies in these developments. Capital funds will be available in the form of loans from the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) to qualified housing developers. To be eligible, projects must be linked with MHSA-funded services.

The California Department of Mental Health (DMH) has allocated funds for the first 3½ years of the program using a formula. For this initial period, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services has been allocated about $14.7 million. Of this, up to $4.9 million may be used to capitalize 20-year operating subsidy reserves. Berkeley Mental Health has an initial allocation of nearly $1.3 million, of which up to $419,500 may be used for operating subsidy reserves. Continued funding for this program will depend on the availability of MHSA funds at the state level.

DMH and CalHFA have issued application materials for this funding source. BHCS and BMH must review and approve applications locally prior to their submission to CalHFA. For complete details, visit: California Department of Mental Health – Mental Health Services Act – Housing

Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services seeks public comment on Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program Applications

The Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) – Housing Services Office (HSO) is seeking public comment on two proposed Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program applications to be submitted to the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) and California Housing Financing Agency (CalHFA). The proposed housing projects – Jefferson Oaks Apartments and 720 E. 11th Street Apartments – are both located in Oakland. DMH and CalHFA require that applications for funding are submitted jointly by the proposed housing developer/owner and the appropriate county mental health department. The Jefferson Oaks Apartments is being developed by Affordable Housing Associates (AHA), and the 720 E. 11th Street project is being developed by Resources for Community Development (RCD).

A proposed $2.5 million in MHSA Housing Program funds are being requested from DMH/CalHFA for the Jefferson Oaks Apartments and $1.6 million for 720 E. 11th Street Apartments. This funding will come from a state-level allocation of funds (approx. $14.6 million) set aside for use within Alameda County. The proposed Jefferson Oaks Apartments includes 15 MHSA units, and 720 E. 11th Street Apartments includes 8 MHSA units. MHSA units are units specifically set-aside for households that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness with at least one household member with a serious mental health issue.

Attached you will find key documents associated with the proposed housing developments. BHCS is seeking public comment on these documents and the proposed housing development projects until Thursday, February 18th at 5 pm. Public comments received will be utilized in the development of the final applications to be submitted to DMH and CalHFA.

Please direct your comments and/or questions related to this project to:

Robert Ratner
Housing Services Director
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
2000 Embarcadero Cove, STE 400
Oakland, CA 94606
Tel: (510) 567-8124; Fax: (510) 567-8130
rratner@acbhcs.org

Click the links below for more information on these MHSA Housing Projects

Jefferson Oaks Apartments
720 East 11th Street Apartments