12/3/2008 8:21:26 PM

Issue-Driven Workgroup:
Housing

Overview

Recovery from mental illness is difficult, if not impossible, without adequate housing. Unfortunately, in Texas, there is a dearth of safe and affordable housing. This shortage is exacerbated further by the numerous funding streams, programs, and eligibility requirements which often differ across municipality lines - leaving prospective tenants confused and all too often homeless. Lack of housing opportunities - both permanent and transitional - is an issue commonly voiced as a frustration by Texas consumers.

TWG Charge

To expand housing options, the Transformation Workgroup (TWG) charged the Housing Workgroup with developing goals, objectives, and action plans to:

Evaluate the programs which currently exist for housing the mental health population and educate agencies about these opportunities for collaboration.
Assess the needs of the mental health community in terms of what types of housing is needed, what regions are in greatest need, and what regulatory or statutory barriers (if any) exist which prevent certain populations from participating in housing programs.
Create a document which contains recommendations for agency collaboration of funds, policy initiatives and interagency programs to ameliorate the housing issues which surface during an individual's transgression from a facility to a community.

Workgroup Goals

After a preliminary investigation, the Housing Workgroup concluded that Texas must first study existing housing programs, delivery mechanisms, eligibility requirements, and regulatory or policy barriers before recommending policy improvements. The workgroup cautioned that housing programs must provide those individuals with the greatest need with housing located where they need it.

Recommendations

The workgroup's goals for study include:

To explore the housing programs that currently serve the mental health populations and investigate rates of success and service satisfaction as it relates to consumer standards
To develop an understanding of existing housing programs and their delivery mechanisms, while focusing on regulatory facets of policy that create barriers and may even make certain populations ineligible to benefit from various housing opportunities.

Next Steps