At least 80 mentally ill and substance-addicted offenders participating in the San Francisco Superior Court’s collaborative courts will receive transitional housing for an average 6-month stay through a $600,000 Judicial Council grant, Presiding Judge John K. Stewart announced today.
“The record high cost of rental housing in San Francisco shuts the door on many tenants seeking a safe and affordable home – an insurmountable barrier for people with mental illness or drug addiction/’ Judge Stewart said. “This grant will provide much-needed housing and social service support for collaborative court participants at high risk of reoffending. Without stable housing, the mental health and substance abuse recovery process proves to be too challenging for most clients. Our long-term goal is stabilizing the clients and helping them to achieve permanent housing.”
The Court is partnering with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic (THC), which operates the City’s largest permanent housing program for single homeless adults. The THC will rent 16 single room occupancy housing units, and make them available to collaborative court clients. THC also will MORESFSC/HOUSING GRANT work with the clients to develop a plan for securing permanent housing. At the same time, clients will receive social services and report regularly on their progress to collaborative court Judges, including their plans for obtaining permanent housing.
“Tenderloin Housing Clinic is excited to partner with the San Francisco Superior Court/THC’s Deputy Director Krista Gaeta said. “Housing is an essential component in stabilizing individuals and ultimately increasing their health and well-being. By removing the daily stress of living on the streets or navigating the shelter system, we can more effectively work with clients during their 6- to 12-month stay to find permanent housing and make positive choices for their future.”
The San Francisco Superior Court is one of 27 trial courts in California to receive this 3-year grant through the Judicial Council Recidivism Reduction Fund (RRF) Court Grant Program. The goal of the RRF grant funding is to support the administration and operation of court programs proven to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Through the Court’s well established and recognized Collaborative Courts – Behavioral Health Court, Drug Court, Community Justice Center, and the Intensive Supervision Program – homeless or marginally housed participants will be placed in supportive housing at a single-room-occupancy hotel, location has not been confirmed yet.
By helping San Franciscans with addiction and mental illness to secure housing, the Court is working with its criminal justice and community partners to keep individuals out of the criminal justice system and to increase public safety in San Francisco.
Categorized in: Legal Procedure
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