Behavioral Health Bridge Housing: Housing for Health

Author: Behavioral Health
Date: 10/7/2024 10:13 AM

Local agencies band together to provide housing to community members with severe behavioral health conditions.

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Thanks to a new San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Bridge Housing program, 18 individuals will have a new place to call home. The first of its kind in SLO County, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program offers transitional housing and support people experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions.

The Bridge Housing program is a collaborative effort between County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health and Transitions- Mental Health Association and funded by a $7.5 million grant from the State Department of Health Care Services. The program provides treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in supportive housing that transitions residents into permanent housing while reducing the chance of relapse into homelessness.

“Having somewhere to call home is one of the most important steps to achieving a healthy lifestyle,” says Behavioral Health Director Star Graber, PhD, LMFT. “Without structure or a consistent and safe place to live, recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder becomes harder to achieve. We are hopeful that this program can offer many residents the chance to find the care they need so they may focus on their recovery journey without them or their family members worrying if they have a safe place to lay their head at night.”

The most recent Point in Time count conducted by the County found 1,175 community members were experiencing homelessness, with 800 individuals unsheltered. Behavioral Health Bridge Housing will help contribute to goals outlined in the San Luis Obispo Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness by supplying 18 new supportive housing units in San Luis Obispo. Eight units offer standard rental assistance agreements for up to 2 years while residents partake in treatment. The remaining 10 units are to be used as short term (typically 12 months) housing that offers more intensive care under licensed healthcare staff who remain directly on-site 24/7.

Community members have long emphasized the critical need for housing solutions that offer integrated services, as homelessness remains a significant barrier in accessing behavioral health treatment.
“This is a really unique opportunity for our county to address homelessness and behavioral health challenges at the same time,” says Morgan Torell, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Manager. “No one wants to be in the situation where they are ready to recover from their illness, but cannot find safe, or affordable housing to support that healing. This program offers a solution that many individuals and families in our community have been waiting for. We are excited to work with TMHA and other partner agencies to identify, support, and treat residents who face the challenges of recovery in homelessness.”

Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) has a long history of providing supportive housing for the most at-risk individuals in the community. Barry Johnson, Deputy Director of TMHA, states that, “the data shows that supportive, rehabilitative living environments significantly help those in need to take the next step in their recovery, and to move forward with their lives and their life goals. We are pleased to be part of a project that expands those opportunities!”
About the San Luis Obispo Health Agency:
The Health Agency’s mission is to provide a broad array of services essential to the health and well-being of those living in and visiting San Luis Obispo County. Its vision is to ensure that our residents and visitors are healthy and have access to services essential to maintain optimal health. The Health Agency is comprised of the Behavioral Health Department, Public Health Department, Animal Services Division, and the Office of the Public Guardian. It is the largest department in San Luis Obispo County Government with nearly 800 employees and an annual operating budget of $150 million. For more information on the programs and services the Health Agency provides, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency.

About Behavioral Health Bridge Housing:
Through the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will provide over a billion dollars in funding to county behavioral health agencies and Tribal entities to operate bridge housing settings to address the immediate housing needs of people experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions, including serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorder (SUD). The program, which was signed into law in September 2022 under Assembly Bill 179 , provides funding through June 30, 2027.

About Transitions-Mental Health Association:
Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community and family support services. The agency operates over 40 programs at locations throughout San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara counties and provides supportive housing to over 350 clients annually. For more information, visit www.t-mha.org.