BACKGROUND
We are a group of community leaders, concerned citizens, and family members with an adult relative who has a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). We recognize that lack of investment in affordable housing and services over many decades has led to a societal crisis, particularly for those individuals with SMI.
Alameda County is suffering from a seemingly intractable housing crisis. A prime issue is the actual housing of the homeless, which includes those who are unhoused as well as those at risk of losing housing when caretakers are not there. Of even more importance, however, may be the individual's ability to maintain housing. Nowhere is this more evident than in the plight of those carrying the burden of a mental illness.
Those with SMI are the most tragically affected by the housing crisis and suffer woefully inadequate resources, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Even in an ideal scenario, there are tremendous odds to face as an individual with SMI progresses from hospitalization to sub-acute care to a licensed board and care home to independent permanent supportive housing. Current efforts to provide stability, no matter how well intended, become revolving doors for costly reactive crisis management because these efforts are not tied realistically to the next level of care needed on the path to recovery.
