The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA Stakeholder Feedback

(CLOSED) Strategic 5: Housing and Homelessness

This forum is closed.

The ideas and comments below are part of the feedback received during the development of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives. The final document that reflects the input provided in these forums is available at: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA11-4629.

Questions about this forum can be directed to newmedia@samhsa.hhs.gov

I suggest SAMHSA...

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  1. 4 votes
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      1 comment  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
    • Emphasize that housing is necessary for health, mental health, and recovery from addiction

      Housing is health. Housing is mental health. Housing is recovery. We can put the best service delivery system in place but little progress will be made if people stay on the street.

      13 votes
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        0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
      • fight to help indivduals with disabling mental health disorders secure safe and supportive housing.

        The state I live in, Illinois, was finally forced to move people out of "nursing homes" and into less restrictive housing. We need help ensuring that this happens, in this state and every other.

        12 votes
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          1 comment  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
        • Inclusion of Older Adults

          The Administration on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that there were 43,450 sheltered homeless people over the age of 62 in 2008. Homelessness is projected to increase by 33 percent from 2010 to 2020 and will more than double between 2010 and 2050, when over 95,000 elderly persons are projected to be homeless As compared to the younger homeless, elderly homeless people are more likely to experience multiple medical problems and chronic illnesses that may have gone untreated for years. Elderly people who are homeless or recently homeless also lack social supports and may be especially prone to depression…

          12 votes
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            0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
          • Ensure organizations/grantees have access and resources from federal/regional coordination.

            SAMHSA’s focus on housing and service needs of specific “at risk” populations are a welcome step in homelessness prevention. We hope this focus will highlight the “gap” characterizing many behavioral health program designs, and provide the means to ensure a gradual transition toward independence for its enrollees. Too often, through legal and financial constraints, people released from correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and residential treatment facilities lack the necessary skills and resources to become a meaningful part of their community. Without these tools, the “at risk” label takes on a depressingly permanent status. Ensuring coordination among the federal agencies will be…

            6 votes
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              0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
            • Assist with more specialized community based housing support services, and broaden service array.

              A service array beyond those supports that are usually only offered through a congregate, supported housing project is vitally needed. More services also are needed at permanent, supported housing that is 'scattered-site.'

              14 votes
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                0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
              • Focus on developing truly affordable housing options for those with very low income levels.

                More focus needs to be placed on developing truly affordable housing options for individuals at very low income levels. The other alternative is to increase long-term subsidy programs. Currently, affordable housing options are developed through housing authorities at 80% of median income - which individuals on disability benefits, and those making minimum wage, cannot afford.

                A need also exists for housing development/rehab dollars that do not exclude individuals with felony convictions.

                18 votes
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                  0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                • Strategy 5.1: Increase emergency and bridge housing subsidies, to include utility assistance.

                  Additionally, more specialized community based housing support services are needed, beyond what existing case management services offer, to better assist individuals with successfully maintaining their housing.

                  10 votes
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                    0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                  • 3 votes
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                      0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                    • Employment, health integration, smart linkages

                       We recommend more detail on the kinds of services that we care about in housing and in other settings, namely employment, health integration, smart linkages to other community-based supports, etc.

                      1 vote
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                        0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                      • low-threshold housing with a harm reduction approach

                        We recommend the inclusion of models such as low-threshold housing with a harm reduction approach.

                        7 votes
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                        • Recovery, prevention and re-housing

                          There should be more emphasis on recovery-oriented housing for people with serious mental illness, and more focus on prevention and rapid re-housing options for single adults with serious mental illness (not just families)

                          12 votes
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                            0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                          • Promote home ownership and asset building rather than paying landlords with section 8 funding + fund

                            Section 8 housing is a great help for many with hardship though it is underfunded currently. Assisting with asset building and home ownership could allow greater freedom self-sufficiency and break the cycle of perpetual poverty, by providing a mortgage payment in place of a rent payment. Allowing people to live with a room mate on section 8 housing could also provide desired support while reducing overhead. With creative funding resources could go farther and do more for empowering people who want companionship and the transition into self-sufficiency.

                            28 votes
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                              0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                            • change the way we frame homelessness and teach us to think of it as a stage not a permanent event

                              there is much talk about a "culture of poverty" that places the blame on the poor. but the blame lies equally with the wealthy who define their wealth by the way that they view the poor. by reframing the way we view poverty, we open ourselves to possibilities: That "the poor" and "the homeless" have skills, make contributions, and add value. Reframing the vision, will allow us also devise solutions that are inclusive of the inner city.

                              4 votes
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                                0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                              • 3 votes
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                                  1 comment  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                • Lead the way for implementing Recovery principles and consumer/peer leadership

                                  The homeless service delivery system needs to move toward recovery principles (vs.blame the victim), and a first step would be to being to implement consumer/peer leadership at every. This would increase cross-system coordination, provide opportunity for people experiencing homelessness/formerly homeless/risk of homelessness, etc.,

                                  34 votes
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                                    0 comments  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                  • Help people work without losing benefits.

                                    Despite all the "so -called" work incentives
                                    such as the Ticket and "Pass Plan," for many meaningful work is just a "dream." We get scared of losing our "little check and insurance" but know we can work. I would think that if SSA and SA<HSA could work together to get those "disabled folks"
                                    working,...it would be great. This is not really a new idea, but should be addressed. I work and make a little extra money, but I get dozens of letters from SSA.

                                    36 votes
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                                      1 comment  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                    • 10 votes
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                                        1 comment  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                      • 24 votes
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                                        • 14 votes
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                                          (CLOSED) Strategic 5: Housing and Homelessness

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