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Testimony to the House Appropriations Presented by Paul Bolster, I am the Director of the Supportive Housing is affordable
housing connected to quality services. When you cement together affordability
and services you can stabilize the lives of many persons who now frequent state
and local jails, hospitals, and shelters. Many persons who are currently in
long term care institutions can live successful and independent lives if given
the opportunity to live in “typical” housing that is not different from the housing
of most Georgians. So, why am I in front of the
Health Subcommittee? We believe housing is health care. Or at least without it, the delivery of healthcare is very ineffective, very inefficient and very costly. It is difficult for an individual to keep their recovery from addiction or mental illness without housing. Without housing a person is very likely to return to prison or jail. Without affordable community housing people will get locked into an institutional life at great cost to their life options and great expense to the public. Housing is critical to your effort to reform MENTAL HEALTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE HEALTH All of these reforms save
money because they help people to live outside an institution and get their
treatment in the community. MENTAL
HEALTH REFORM. We commend you and Governor
Deal for funding the recommendations of the DBHDD
Budget. We are pleased that Governor Deal’s budget has
avoided a $9 million cut that mental health providers were expecting. Funds
will be needed in future budgets to continue the expansion of a community based
mental health system. The Settlement has a goal to provide
supportive housing to 9,000 individuals. Under the Georgia Housing Voucher
Program of DBHDD the state is on track to serve 2,000 persons in supported
housing who do not qualify for other housing. You have grown the program from
116 the first year and are on track to meet the goals. FY 13—800 FY 14—1200 FY 15—2000 There is still work to be
done to tap federal housing dollars to meet the rest of the goal. We know some things about the
people served.
1.
Housing stability
is at 92 % which is above the goal of 77%. People are staying housed.
2.
44% came from
homelessness
3.
17% came from hospitals We believe you are serving
the most in need and creating the most public savings. But we don’t know about the
cost benefit of this program. Studies across the country show it is less
expensive than the revolving door of jail, prison, hospital, homeless shelter,
and the street. GSHA believes it is. We need a good analysis of
the cost benefits of the program so you will know what you are getting for your
investment. When the data comes in, we think that you will want to do more. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. There are more mentally ill
persons in our jails and state prisons than there are in our mental health
hospitals. Approximately 5,000 persons
in the state correctional facilities have serious and persistent mental
illness. One analysis says the number is doubling every five years. If mentally
stable and otherwise eligible for parole, 1500 of these persons would be
released today except they lack access to supportive housing. Without the
housing they would be back tomorrow. We support Governor Deal’s
expansion of an accountability court system. However, to serve the most in need
these courts will need housing and expanded mental health services. HEALTH REFORM. Hospital and doctors can’t
treat people effectively if they don’t have safe sanitary housing. Mental health
providers can’t effectively deliver their services to patients who are
homeless. We support:
1.
A careful
analysis of the “health home” option under Medicaid that integrates medical and
mental health services. Through a capitated reimbursement
system providers will have a financial incentive to get their enrollees housed.
2.
Medicaid
Expansion will provide the funding for an expanded community based treatment
system. This decision requires greater understanding of how the $32 Billion in
federal spending will supplant current spending and greater understanding of the
tax revenues from a $72 Billion expansion in the state’s economy. CONCLUSION We know that supportive
housing works but government efforts to expand its availability is not easy. It
takes the collaboration of at least four state departments and four department
budgets: DCH for Medicaid funded programs; DCA for the prioritization and
administration of federal housing dollars; DBHDD for treatment and recovery
support; DOC for preparing its prisoners for life in the community rather than
a return to incarceration and supervision. Four departments and the judicial
branch must closely collaborate to maximize the benefits that can come from
supportive housing. |