As the Virginia affiliate of Mental Health America, with 80 years of advocacy for the least restrictive community supports for people living with mental health conditions, we urge flexibility in supportive housing options. The draft regulations seem to unneccesarily limit eligibility for an Auxillary Grant in Supportive Housing to qualified individuals residing in assisted living facilities. 

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia has offered suggestions that regulations should recognize a process for identifying supportive housing in the Uniform Assessment Instrument while an individual is residing in a state mental health facility prior to discharge. As they have noted, this process would be consistent with the language of Virginia Code, Section 51.5-160(E), stating that an individual may select supportive housing at the time of the first annual assessment.  We agree with this analysis, and encourage its adoption. 

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment.

Bruce N. Cruser, Executive Director

Mental Health America of Virginia