Grant
Information
Name of Grantee
Department
of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
Title of Grant
Housing
within Reach
Type of Grant
Real
Choice Systems Change
Amount of Grant
$1,768,604
Year Original Funding
Received
2001
Expected Completion Date
March
2006
Contact
Information
Gregory Fisher, CMSW
Project Director
Real Choice Systems Change Grant
615-532-4651
Gregory.Fisher@state.tn.us
David Sherman
Administrative Assistant
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Office of Housing, Planning and Development
3rd Floor,
Nashville
615-532-6746
David.Sherman@state.tn.us
Subcontractor(s)
Foundations Associate
Michael Cartwright
615-256-9002
Target
Population(s)
Individuals with mental illness who are currently in need
of permanent, safe, affordable, quality housing and support service options.
Goals
Activities
Abstract
This project will make a long-term change in housing and
support services access for people diagnosed with serious and persistent mental
illness. All too often these individuals are ostracized, stigmatized, and left
to fend for themselves—unwelcome within the communities in which they live. Key
project goals include designing and implementing a more effective,
consumer-directed, and accessible housing resource system for people with
mental illness; increasing the number of persons in quality, affordable
housing; and reducing the stigma of mental illness statewide.
Project goals will be addressed through multifaceted
activities, including employment of four consumer housing specialists in
targeted communities; the development of a housing resource Web site accessible
throughout the State; hardware strategically installed at key community drop-in
centers to promote access to the Web site; facilitation of an annual week-long
housing academy and biannual housing summits; formation of a statewide housing
hotline; development of a high-quality anti-stigma mass media campaign; and a
research initiative to evaluate efforts of meeting the needs of consumers as
they transition to community-based housing and supports.
These activities will result in an enduring change to the
state's current mental health housing system by increasing the availability and
accessibility of housing resources for consumers and providers, increasing
consumer involvement in housing development and their choice in housing
decisions, increasing opportunities to live in the most integrated and
preferred community setting, and changing community attitudes to decrease
stigma and create a more welcoming environment. The grant funds will be
supplemented by additional in-kind funding of over $400,000. This modest
investment will produce a sustainable change in available community supports
that enable individuals with mental illness to live and participate fully in
their communities.