Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Strategy to Address Siting Issues

Transcription

1 Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Strategy to Address Siting Issues Maria Funk, Ph.D., Mental Health Clinical Program Manager III Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Countywide Housing, Employment and Education Resource Development (CHEERD)

2 Why was Addressing Siting Issues Important? v Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Services and Supports v New Programs would have to be sited v MHSA Housing Program v Los Angeles County had $115 million that would be invested in new housing projects v Identified as important by stakeholders during initial MHSA planning Allocated $80,000

3 DMH s Strategy to Addressing Siting Issues v Siting Manual v Training on How to Address Siting Issues v Siting Technical Assistance v Encouraged consumers/family members to speak at public hearings

4 Developing a Siting Manual v Hired Government and Community Affairs Strategies v National Public Affairs firm in area of land use public relations and siting controversial projects v Developed a manual on Successful Siting Strategies that included: v Tools to use v Best practices v DMH Protocols (e.g. notifying Board Office)

5 A Guide to Successful Siting Strategies This manual contains information on: v Creating a community outreach plan v Preparing your lobbying plan v Holding an open house v Organizing successful affordable housing tours v Sending the right non- verbal signals v Good neighbor agreements v Dealing with an angry public v Dealing with hostile questions v Messages that work v The impact of supportive housing on surrounding neighborhoods v Anti- NIMBY tools v Strategies for working with a consolidated plan v Zoning 101 v Fair housing v Golden Rod v Los Angeles County Supervisorial Districts Our Services >Housing > Housing Related Links > A Guide to Successful Siting Strategies

6 Provided Training on Siting Strategies v Introduced the Manual v Education about siting strategies including vignettes v Presentations by individuals that had experience siting programs/housing v Provided information about available siting technical assistance

7 Provided Opportunities for Siting Technical Assistance

8 Solicitation for Siting Experts v Request for Statement of Interest to identify experts v Five Categories of Expertise v Affordable Housing Development v Public Relations v Land Use and Zoning v Fair Housing Laws v Development Financing v Developed a Master Agreement List of Eligible Responders

9 Requests for Siting Technical Assistance v Made available to mental health providers and supportive housing developers that receive MHSA funds v Developed a guideline/procedure for requests for technical assistance consultation for up to $10,000 per project v Provider/developer must submit the Siting Technical Assistance Request form to describe the project and technical assistance needed. v DMH matches the agency with the consultant/trainer who best fits the agency s needs

10 Requests for Siting Technical Assistance v Based on needed expertise, DMH requests work plans from entities on the master agreement list that have the required expertise v DMH selects an expert based on the work plan v Develop Statement of Work with Fee Schedule

11 Examples of Requests for Technical Assistance v New TAY Permanent Supportive Housing Project v Project discontinued v Institutions for Mental Disease Step Down Program v Community Outreach v Research relevant laws and ensure compliance v MHSA Housing Program TAY and Adult Permanent Supportive Housing Projects v Develop siting strategy v Community Outreach v Research relevant laws and ensure compliance

12 Encouraged Siting Support from Mental Health Consumers and Family Members v Participation in public hearings v Those that live in Permanent Supportive Housing v Family members of consumers v MHSA Housing Advisory Board Members