Friday, April 22, 2011

Message from Paul Bolster, Georgia Supportive Housing Association on DOJ Settlement Agreement Housing


New Supportive Housing Program
Today DBHDD will issue a "notice to proceed" that will committ the new Housing Support dollars to 100 clients identified as needing supportive housing. It is the beginning of the new program that will grow to 2000 units in FY 2015. The persons recieving this support will be within the Settlement's targeted population.

The process used for this first allocation included a request to the Department's Residential Services providers to identify persons in their intensive residential programs who could live more independently in housing in the community. It is expected that this will create capacity in the more intensive programs for persons moving from institutions. The funds to begin the program were appropriated by the recently concluded General Assembly in the supplemental 2011 budget and must be committed by July 1 of this year. The allocation process may not be the same going forward but it meets the need to move quickly on the expenditure of the funds. This program will help to satisfy the first bench mark in the Settlement.
Congratulations to DBHDD on getting this program rolling quickly.  
-- Paul Bolster, Georgia Supportive Housing Association