WASHINGTON, D.C.-Washington state has been chosen to participate in a new federal program to implement and improve Medicaid-covered housing services and support people with disabilities or older adults at risk of homelessness.
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Washington was one of eight states chosen for the program on Friday, Feb. 9.
“Treating housing as part of health care has been a real breakthrough in Washington state, where we are putting Medicaid dollars to work helping people who are facing mental and behavioral health challenges stay off the streets and in stable housing,” said Senator Murray.
The Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator is a partnership between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) authorized the use of Medicaid funding to help house people experiencing homelessness who are facing medical or mental health issues in 2015, according to a press release from Sen. Murray’s Office.
The Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator will coordinate housing assistance and wrap-around supportive services, such as supportive housing to help individuals transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Under the Accelerator program, Washington hopes to expand partnerships with public housing agencies to develop programs that create pathways to community housing options and promote community integration and housing choice, according to today’s press release.
“Being selected for the Accelerator program means that Washington state will receive intensive technical assistance and other federal support over the next year to improve the implementation of our Medicaid-funded supportive housing programs and better serve people at risk of homelessness,” said Sen. Murray.
