Nowhere in Santa Clara County are mental health needs more prevalent than among those with severe mental illness. Compound these health challenges with a lack of housing, and those who suffer from severe mental illness become homeless or land in jail.
Even those who do stabilize through hospitalization or residential treatment facilities fall into the housing gap dilemma once discharged. They often don’t have the means or cannot find an affordable room or apartment to rent. Those who need supportive housing or have developmental disabilities and mental illness fare no better. If families cannot take in their family members, the cycle of homelessness and illness persists. Everyone suffers.
At the NAMI-SCC General Meeting on April 13th from 7–8:30 P.M., we will discuss the housing gap problem and explore solutions. Former Sen. Jim Beall will explain where mental health dollars come from to support housing needs and how we might leverage state funds for counties to enhance subsidies. Sen. Beall’s remarks will be followed by a panel that includes Momentum for Health’s President/CEO David Mineta, Deputy County Executive Ky Le, NAMI peer mentor John Duckworth, and NAMI family member Matt Jacobsen discussing housing solutions.
Jim Beall’s vision and experience have provided Silicon Valley with 30 years of leadership, making a difference in the lives of working families, seniors, foster care children, and people with disabilities.
Jim learned values like responsibility, hard work, self-reliance, and the importance of giving back to the community to improve peopleʼs lives.
Ky Le
Ky Leis the Deputy County Executive and has worked for the County of Santa Clara for more than 13 years. He has led the effort to develop new supportive and affordable housing programs for Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable individuals and families.
David Mineta
David Mineta’s career has strong roots in Santa Clara County. He earned his master’s degree in social work from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked for 14 years as the Asian American Recovery Services Deputy Director in the Bay Area. He is currently President and CEO of Momentum for Health.
John Duckworth
John Duckworth is a NAMI Peer Mentor who also serves on several boards as an adviser including the Lived-Experience Advisory, Bay Area Legal Aid, and Recovery Cafe.
Matt Jacobsen
Matt Jacobsenis a NAMI-SCC family member and Family-to-Family instructor. His organization, UPL, provides affordable housing for independent living in a shared home environment to those with mental illness and others.