Prevent Elderly & Seriously Mentally Ill Homelessness

Housing and Homelessness

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

ARF's and RCFE's are closing at alarming rates. Thousands of elderly and adults living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) are at risk of becoming homeless. The Dept. of Social Services recently reported 27 closures of ARF's in LA County -- just in the first quarter of 2023 -- that provide housing and care for low-income residents living with SMI. Individuals living with a serious mental illness only receive approximately $44 a day from the State to meet their housing and care needs -- just not enough! Without immediate State legislative action, thousands of elderly and people living with SMI will remain at risk of becoming homeless as ARF's and RCFE's continue to struggle and close. This gross and inequitable funding system creates unequal access to care and housing and maintains financial systems that harm low-income people living with SMI, predominantly people of color who lack access to resources with limited knowledge about navigating the system.

LARCA is a network of ARF's and RCFE's committed, through education and advocacy, to improve and sustain the quality of care and permanent housing they provide to vulnerable individuals living with SMI. We serve our members and the community, championing resources for facilities and residents; building increased public awareness and support through a grassroots network supporting housing and health solutions that serve vulnerable, disadvantaged adults, and the elderly, living with SMI on public benefits. This project brings together board and care owners/operators, community based non-profits, faith-based organizations, health and homeless advocates, local businesses and community leaders to increase the public awareness of ARF's and RCFE's, and develop best practices across the industry, championing resources for disadvantaged residents living with SMI. This proposal provides innovative solutions to bring permanent affordability and community control to help ease LA County's housing crisis for SMI people whose income is 200% of the federal poverty level. It gives a voice to ARF's and RCFE's to develop recommendations and policy solutions that are human centered, bringing forward industry best practices to meet the needs of their residents. LARCA provides educational and training opportunities, develops relationships with those serving the health needs of ARF and RCFE clients, tracks and disseminates information, and advocates for our case before public officials.

Success may bring new avenues to supportive housing and mental health services. Currently, homeless individuals receiving mental health care are more likely to continue to be homeless upon discharge, or may not be able to continue mental health services due to not having stable housing. Having a safe and secure place to live is a vital part of wellness and recovery. Success in the short term will include the development of financing models that will sustain the operation of LARCA; and increase our support network by cultivating and establishing relationships with public officials and agencies serving the health needs of ARF's and RCFE's. Long Term success will include an effect on ARF and RCFE closures; develop a community land trust that allows for equitable participation by residents with lived experience, mental health consumers, and family members of residents living with SMI; and a sustainable financial model for existing and new ARF's and RCFE's.

We measure past and current success in several ways: --Membership -- Grown from 235 facilities to 342 in the past few months. --Free Training - one monthly since the beginning of 2022 (12 per year), with 12 more scheduled for the coming year. Half of these trainings are eligible for required Continuing Education credits; these trainings help facilities develop a sustainable business model that provides the capacity to address the mental health issues of their residents. --Discounts on Continuing Education Training We will measure future success with the continuation of the above milestones, plus: --Immediate Relief Advocacy - advocating before state public officials to provide a one-time grant of $2,000 per bed; this will improve facilities' capacity to sustain themselves and keep providing shelter for our target population. --Implementation of the "1119 Waiver" Advocacy - advocating before state and federal officials to increase the SSI payment rate for our residents.