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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1464;. A ~ Resolution ~°~`~°~ N°~ `~~ WHF:RP:AS. in the Fall of 1988 the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County convened the Task Force on Housing and Support Services for the Menta))v Ill with the purpose of developing and beginning the implementation of a plan to address the needs of persons in Tarrant County with a long term-mental illness who are homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless; WHFRF.AS, the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County commissioned a study of the residential alternatives available in Tarrant County for persons with a long-term mental illness. WHEREAS, this study revealed the need for additional housing and SilppOrt. SerV1Ce5 t0 serve residents of Tarrant County that are mentally ill; WHRRF.AS. the 'f ask Farce reviewed the study, toured local shelters and residential facilities, discussed needed support services and developed extensive information about. funding and reviewed housing opti.nns. WHF:RF.AS, the Task Force completed if.s work with the preparation of A Plan of Action for Tarrant County in which the Taslc Force established its mission and outlined four maior coals to be met in providing decent, stable and affordable housing and support services . for the long-term mentally ill. WHER}':AS; 'f ask Force representatives have met. with the City and made them aware of the need for. additional services and housing for the mentally i]] and requested that. the City Council endorse the above referenced A Plan of Action for Tarrant County; NOW, '1'HEREFURF.. BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of Fort Worth endorsors the follow.ina coals within the P]an of Action for Tarrant Count.v: Goal ]: Establish an Interaaencv Council to ensure the implementation of. the Goals established by the Task Force. Goal 2: To reduce problems and deficiencies in the housing currently used by persons with a long-term mental illness. Goal 3: To provide the support services that will be needed to maintain persons with a long-term mental illness in the housina that is available. Goa) 4: To develop appropriate housing options for an additioxta.LOVED 350 persons with Iona-term mental illness ~Htr'YYKK O QTY OF FOST ~IIORTH CITY COUI L nS-E/P 12 1989 ~i 9~iw2~dL, cieF se~eeatp aE me City of Eon Worth, Texas THE TASK FORCE ON HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES i ' FOR THE HOMELESS MENTALLY ILL A PLAN OF ACTION FOR TARRANT COUNTY • The Task Force on Housing and Support Services for the Homeless Mentally Ill was convened to develop and begin the implementation of a plan to address the needs of persons in Tarrant County with a long-term mental illness who are homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless. The mission the Task force established for itself was to provide persons with a long-term mental illness with decent, stable, affordable, safe housing with a support system that can be available as needed. A. BASIC ASSUMPTIONS The Task Force agreed on the following basic assumptions regarding the pro- vision of housing and support services to citizens in the community who have a long-term mental illness. I. FOCUS ON THOSE WITH LONG-TERM MENTAL ILLNESS Efforts will be focused on those persons with a long-term mental illness • who are homeless or who are at high risk of becoming homeless. - 2. HOUSING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 350 PERSONS IS NEEDED It is estimated that 350 persons with a long-term mental illness in Tarrant County are without adequate or appropriate living arrangements and support services. 3. A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVES ARE NEEDED Persons with a long-term mental illness have a variety of changing needs and require different degrees of support. They are best served by having a variety of living arrangements and supportive services available to them. While a small number of persons with long-term mental illness may require highly specialized and intensive care, many can meet their housing needs in the same way as the general public if they are provided with sufficient and appropriate support. 4. INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY Housing and support services should assist the person with mental illness to became a meaningful, integrated part of the community. Services should be aimed at developing the maximum potential of the person with mental illness for self-care and developing normal roles and relation- ships. 5. A ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS There is a role for private individuals and groups as well as public agencies in providing housing services to mentally ill persons, and information about financing, regulation, and linkage with the mental health system needs to be developed. The Task Force on Housing and Support Services for the Homeless Mentally I11 - ~ A Plan of Action for Tarrant County Page -2- • B. GOAL 1: ESTABLISH AN INTERAGENCY COUNCIL TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE TASK FORCE. Sub-Goal 1: ESTABLISH AN INTERAGENCY COUNCIL To establish an ongoing Interagency Council to oversee and coordinate implementation of the Task Force Plan. The Council would consist of organizations, funding bodies, representatives of governmental units, and influential citizens, and would have an expected life-span of 3 years, and would not be renewed unless sufficient justification is available at the end of the 3 years to warrant continuation of the project. Sub-Goal 2: UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION For the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County to serve in a leadership role as an umbrella organization and convenor of the Interagency Council to implement the housing plan of the Task Force. • C. GOAL 2: TO REDUCE PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES IN THE HOUSING CURRENTLY USED BY PERSONS WITH A LONG-TERM MENTAL ILLNESS. Many of the places in which persons with a long-term mental illness currently live are supportive, clean, and safe places to live. However, others do not adequately meet the basic needs of persons with long-term mental illness, and leave such persons at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The first goal of the Task Force is to establish ways by which we can ensure that the housing provided for persons with long-term mental illness meets basic, minimal requirements for safety, cleanliness, health, and nutrition. Sub-Goal 1: MANDATORY REGISTRATION AND MONITORING To advocate with the cities of Tarrant County to establish mandatory registration and monitoring systems to ensure that providers of housing for the mentally ill comply with basic requirements for safety, health, and nutrition. Sub-Goal 2: VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION To establish standards of excellence and a voluntary certification process for programs that provide housing for the mentally ill. Sub-Goal 3: ONGOING TRAINING To establish ongoing training, consultation, and support programs for the providers of housing services to assist them in better meeting the needs of their mentally ill residents. . , The Task Force oh Housing and Support Services for the Homeless Mentally I11 A Plan of Action for Tarrant County Page -3- Many providers of housing to persons with a long-term mental illness have had no training in working with individuals who have a disability that is confusing, frustrating, frightening, and difficult to manage. A training program for providers would result in reduced frustration for the providers of housing services, and more appropriate and useful housing services for the consumer. D. GOAL 3: TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PERSONS WITH A LONG-TERM MENTAL ILLNESS.IN THE HOUSING THAT IS AVAILABLE. The problem of homelessness is much more complex than a simple lack of affordable housing. Experience has shown that most people with a long- term mental illness can live quietly and successfully in the ,community. However, in order to do so, it is important to provide a wide array of support services. The third goal of the Task Force is to assist in planning, advocacy, and the development of resources needed to develop support services for persons with a long-term major mental illness so that they can obtain housing, and so that they can maintain themselves once they have obtained it. / Sub-Goal 1: EXPAND CASE MANAGEMENT To expand case management services for the mentally ill so they have the resources they need to find housing and necessary support services. To coordinate the provision of case management services so that the most effective use is made of community resources. Sub-Goal 2: EXPAND ENTITLEMENTS To advocate with the Texas Legislature, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and the Texas Department of Human Services to expand entitlements (such as SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) for services for persons in Texas with long- term mental illness. Sub-Goal 3: BETTER ACCESS TO EXISTING ENTITLEMENTS To advocate with the providers of services and entitlements for persons with a long-term mental illness to improve access to benefits so that those who .are eligible for benefits and services can more readily receive them. Sub-Toal 4: MEET MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND LEGAL NEEDS To advocate with the providers of services to meet the general medical, dental, and legal needs of persons with a long-term mental illness. - :i The Task Force on Housing and Support Services for the Homeless Mentally Ill A Plan of Action for Tarrant County Page -4- Sub-Goal 5: JOBS To expand vocational training and employment programs for persons with a long-term, major mental illness. Sub-Goal 6: BETTER TRANSPORTATION To improve access to transportation for persons with a long- term major mental illness to facilitate their access to jobs, treatment and rehabilitation services, and to facilitate their integration into the community. Sub-Goal 7: HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN EXISTING HOUSING 7o coordinate and enhance existing efforts to assist persons with a long-term mental illness maintain their housing by pro- viding budget counselling and by providing access to resources to help subsidize the person during crisis periods when they are at-risk of losing their housing. Sub-Goal 8: A DAY PROGRAM IN THE NIGHT SHELTER To develop a psychosocial rehabilitation day program for the homeless mentally ill located in the Presbyterian Night Shelter to begin teaching persons who are homeless and mentally ill the basic living and job skills needed to re-integrate into the community. Sub-Goal 9: A DAY PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT HOMELESS To develop a day activity program for persons with a long-term mental illness who are not homeless, to provide them with skills in daily living, money management, and employment to assist them in keeping the housing they already have. Sub-Goal 10: A PARTIAL HOSPITAL PROGRAM To develop a partial hospitalization program to provide a less expensive and more accessible treatment and stabilization alter- native for persons in need of assessment and crisis stabilization. A partial hospital program can reduce admissions to inpatient facilities and permit earlier discharge for patients leaving inpatient facilities for less restrictive alternatives. Sub-Goal 11: RESPITE CARE To develop a respite care program in Tarrant County with an anticipated capacity for caring for 15 people at any given point in time. A respite care program provides family members, who ;. ~Y The Task Force on Housing and Support Services for the Homeless Mentally Ill ' A Plan of Action for Tarrant County Page -5- '• are the primary care givers fora person who has mental illness, with a chance to get away from the daily burden of providing care. Without respite programs, families often burn-out and the ill family member must rely on public housing options or end up on the streets. E. GOAL 4: TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 350 PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM MENTAL ILLNESS. There is a desperate shortage of appropriate, affordable housing for persons with a long-term mental illness. However, much of this shortage is not due to a lack of resources, but to the lack of a well-coordinated community plan for making these resources accessible and useable for persons with a long- term mental illness. A study completed for the Task Force has determined that Tarrant County is in need of an additional 312 to 462 housing residential beds of various types. The fourth goal of the Task force is to develop appropriate housing options for an additional 350 persons with long-term mental illness. • Sub-Goal 1: DEVELOP A PRACTICAL MODEL 7o develop a practical model for the implementation of the type and .number of residential beds established as goals by the Task Force. To convene the Interagency Council to approve,, prioritize, and procure the needed resources for implementation of the model. Sub-Goal 2: APPLY FOR MCKINNEY ACT FUNDS To make immediate application for transitional housing funds under the McKinney Act for implementation of the Fairweather component of the housing plan adopted by the Task Force. APPROVED BY CITY. COUNCIL SEP 12 t989 cYe seo~~s os ~ Cit7 of Fort Worth. Te~cw