SUMMARY 
Providing housing and services associated with supportive monitored sober housing to clients referred by the Office of Forensic and Civil Mental Health for out-of-custody competency restoration

BACKGROUND
Homelessness presents a significant challenge to out-of-custody competency evaluation and restoration.  Many defendants remain in custody during the competency process because releasing them, without a stable place to live, would not be conducive to positive restoration outcomes and may exacerbate behavioral health conditions.  Temporary, or transitional housing, of the type that would benefit a justice-involved population, is a resource gap statewide, and especially in rural areas.   Sober-living facilities present one opportunity to meet this need.

ELEMENTS
Housing in a sober-living facility, coordination between housing managers and competency restoration case management

PROGRAM STAFF
No new staff are supported by this funding.

CAPACITY
5 clients at a time

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
Decrease in individuals who require admittance to the state hospital for competency restoration; Decrease in time to reach competency outcome

STANDOUT ASPECTS
This program utilizes beds in a sober-living facility to provide housing to clients undergoing competency evaluation and restoration.   This program will help state policymakers determine the extent to which the sober-living environment is appropriate for a subset of clients referred for out-of-custody competency restoration.  Further, the rural character of jurisdictions served will provide another interesting factor for evaluation. 

FUNDING
$313,762 for two years