KCCHA/KMHS Partnership

Information by State  Print version

KCCHA/KMHS Partnership is one of many Success Stories that have been locally nominated for recognition in celebration of CDBG's 30th Anniversary.

Success Story Details

Success Story Description

1998 and 1999 Kitsap County Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds were used in the development of sixteen units of housing for extremely low-income individuals with chronic mental illness. The project involved the construction of four four-plexes on two sites, with each site consisting of seven one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom unit, and a small community room that includes a kitchen and space for mental health staff.

Recognizing the lack of affordable housing in the community, two County agencies combined their strengths in providing housing opportunities to extremely low-income individuals with chronic mental illness. The Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority developed and manages the property and Kitsap Mental Health Services is the service provider.

The project had some initial obstacles, including funding and neighborhood opposition. The neighbors fought the location, mostly out of fear of the clients. The agencies worked to alleviate the fears assuring the neighbors of strict tenant screening. The individuals living in the project cannot have a history of violent crime, drug dealing or sex offense. Additionally, they must be in regular contact with their mental health provider. Despite the neighborhood opposition, the project was allowed to move forward. Now several years later, there haven't been problems, the neighbors accept it, and look at it as an asset to their neighborhood and the community.