Counties Gather in Sacramento to Discuss Housing Strategies
On Sept. 5, nearly 140 participants from counties across the state met in Sacramento for a day-long housing strategies workshop, hosted by CalMHSA and the Department of Health Care Services. The workshop emphasized shared learning and problem-solving opportunities, as well as a broad view of the current housing environment, regional-specific needs and funding sources.
Workshop attendees also heard from their peers and subject matter experts on a range of topics, including housing continuum innovations, data indicators of community need and capacity, budgeting tools to analyze sustainable models, assistance with funding applications, working with the coordinated entry system, and the importance of community-building in developing housing.
Robin Taylor, deputy director specialty clinical services in Kern County, spoke to the importance of building relationships with the contractor ecosystem to maximize possibilities for their clients’ needs.
“We invested time in learning their language because they invested time in learning our language,” Taylor said. “Physical space is really important in creating a hopeful, healing environment so that our staff can do the work that they need to do.”
Attendees also had an opportunity to meet with other counties in their regions to discuss upcoming housing plans, what more is needed and how they can support each other.
“On every project you, do it almost dies almost a dozen times, but never take no for an answer,” said Amy Ellis, adult system of care division director for Placer County, during a panel presentation. “If you think it’s going to fail, keep looking for a solution.”
CalMHSA plans to use learnings from the workshop to identify housing models and develop housing infrastructure mapping that counties can use within their local/regional planning and implementation.
September 12, 2024