NC Legislative Update: Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Legislative Oversight Committee Meeting

Legislative Update: Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Legislative Oversight Committee Meeting



On Wednesday this legislative oversight committee began the process of hearing staff, member and department recommendations. The majority of the reports centered on issues around Mental Health. Reports regarding issues around serving people with Developmental Disabilities will occur at the next scheduled meeting. Secretary Dempsey Benton also presented his report later in the afternoon.

Of interest to advocates of affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities was a presentation by Julia Bick (DHHS) and Trisch Amend (NC Housing Finance Agency).

For the FY2007 the General Assembly appropriated $10, 937,500 for capital and $1,205,000 recurring Key Program operating subsidies.

The results of these appropriations allowed this program to finance 430 units in 65 developments across 33 counties. 189 households received Key Program rent assistance through this appropriation cycle.

For the FY2008 this program received $7,500,000 to be used in capital and $3,500,000 recurring key Program operating subsidies.

Last session appropriation to this program allowed DHHS and the Housing Finance Agency to award 120 unit of Key Program assistance, with a second round of applications due in by mid April.

The Arc of North Carolina was a recipient of funding for eight supported units. Four of these units were opened in December. Opening Doors Durham serves eight people with developmental disabilities in four supported scattered site apartments serving eight people with developmental disabilities. In January, we held a ribbon cutting for Opening Doors High Point. These units are also supported scattered site apartments serving eight people with developmental disabilities.



The Housing 400 Initiative is one of the most successful initiatives to emerge from Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Reform. We hope our elected officials see the need to invest in this program and to make the capital funding recurring. Affordable housing is the “key” to a successful independent life.