Housing Stability Council

December 16, 2016
2017 Mental Health Housing NOFA
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OHCS’ staff recommendation is as follows:
Preference projects that have site control, but allow the ability for projects without site control to
apply under secondary consideration protocol, which would state that if projects with site control
are able to meet criteria for funding and all funds could be reserved under the various allocations,
OHCS would not review projects that did not demonstrate site control. If funds remain after
primary consideration is given to projects with site control, projects without site control would
be evaluated for funding.
Technical Assistance to Developers:
Stakeholder feedback indicated some applicants did not apply due to their lack of experience developing
housing for individuals with mental illness or substance abuse disorder. There may be a lack of
understanding how to make contact with Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs), Community Mental
Health Programs (CMHPs) or appropriate service providers in order to develop the necessary
partnerships for the provision of suitable services.
The consensus recommendation is to:
Next Steps
Include CCOs, CMHPs and suitable service provider contact information in the application
materials to provide applicants with opportunity to reach out to the appropriate organizations in
their counties in an effort to develop a project concept that would qualify for Mental Health
Housing funds. OHA will create a list of contacts by county that will be incorporated into the
2017 Mental Health Housing NOFA.
Around the time of NOFA publication, OHCS will also plan to hold a training session for
potential applicants to walk through the streamlined NOFA application, submission
requirements, and how to use the information on county service providers provided by OHA.
OHCS staff will work collaboratively with OHA to revise the Mental Health Housing NOFA to
incorporate the appropriate changes in the framework and application as approved by Housing Stability
Council. OHA will provide OHCS with a definition of maximum stay for Crisis Respite units; and a
contact list by county of COOs, CMHPs and appropriate services providers by county. These will be
utilized in the 2017 Mental Health Housing NOFA to provide clarity and technical assistance to
potential applicants.
OHCS is working to release the 2017 Mental Health Housing NOFA by the end of January/early
February 2017.
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