As a person with lived mental health experience, and as a person who has worked extensively with people in the mental heatlh system, I believe in integrated community-based services and housing. I believe that the vast majority of problems society associates with people with mental illness could be avoided if appropriate and timely mental health services were readily available. Adequate community services keep people out of jails and hospitals which is ultimately a win for not only our peers but our communities. Delegate Farrell made the comment that we need to accept that some people need more help than others. I hope that help will come in the form of community supports as opposed to increased hospitalization. 

In regards to auxiliary grants in supportive housing, I share the concerns voiced by our friends at the disAbility Law Center:

The regulations provide that the Universal Assessment Instrument will determine eligibility for AGSH, and “[e]ligible individuals shall be notified of the SH setting option and the availability of approved SH providers at the time of their annual level of care assessment.” Under this process, AGSH is offered to qualified individuals at the time of annual assessment. The regulations appear to restrict this process to individuals currently residing in assisted living facilities. 
 
There is no reason to limit access to the AGSH only to those qualified individuals who reside in ALFs.  The Uniform Assessment Instrument has been adopted for use by all publicly funded long-term care services, according to the official User’s Manual for the UAI. Therefore, the regulations should recognize a process for the identification of supportive housing in the UAI while an individual is residing in a state mental health facility prior to discharge. 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." 

Thank you for your efforts and attention.

Malaina Poore