County Leaders Call for Action on Housing Affordability, Mental Health

IMG_4323

Intergovernmental partnerships key to achieving solutions  

WASHINGTON – Today during a visit to Washington, D.C., representatives from the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban Counties Caucus and Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing urged action on housing affordability and mental health, advocating for county priorities and sharing best practice recommendations on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies.

“As frontline leaders, we see firsthand the impacts of federal policies on our communities and residents. Counties are addressing national crises – like housing affordability and mental health – at the local level, and we are uniquely positioned to strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships to achieve our shared goals,” said NACo President Mary Jo McGuire.  

The Large Urban County Caucus, chaired by Milwaukee County, Wis. Executive David Crowley, is comprised of counties with a population greater than 500,000. The group is focused on “pencil to shovel” partnerships in enhancing housing affordability, identifying effective strategies to foster public-private partnerships, overcoming common barriers to implementation, and exploring financing options and funding mechanisms. The group will tour Terwilliger Place, a housing development in Arlington County, Va.  

The Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, co-chaired by King County, Wash. Executive Dow Constantine and Los Angeles County, Calif. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, is advocating for policy priorities, including reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act. Prior to its expiration in September 2023, the SUPPORT Act was the largest congressional investment in overdose prevention. The group will also engage in a roundtable discussion with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on modernizing the National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care to integrate county-driven approaches.  

For more information about NACo’s Large Urban Counties Caucus, click here. For more information about NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, click here.  

Related News

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – Nov. 4, 2024

This week's County Countdown features interviews from this year’s NACo Annual Conference.

sd
Advocacy

U.S. Department of the Treasury Issues Notice Regarding ERA Fraud Repayments

On October 4, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) sent a joint notice to all grantees and subrecipients of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program stating that Treasury is requiring grantees to reimburse the agency or their own ERA programs for any ERA funds that were disbursed due to fraud or unallowable expenses – despite the fact that Treasury repeatedly and explicitly encouraged grantees to allow ERA applicants to “self-attest” to their eligibility for assistance without additional documentation.

Therapist with patient
Advocacy

Six years of the SUPPORT Act: Ongoing behavioral health policy priorities for counties

On October 24, 2018, the bipartisan SUPPORT Act was enacted. It represented the largest Congressional investment in overdose prevention at the time, aiming to strengthen the nation's response to the substance use crisis.

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – Oct. 22, 2024

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

Headset
Advocacy

FCC adopts geo-routing requirements for the 988 Hotline

On October 17, the FCC adopted a Report and Order implementing new geo-routing requirements for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Image of 988_GettyImages-1346929901.jpg
Press Release

Counties Applaud Final Rulemaking to Improve 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The National Association of Counties (NACo) today applauded a unanimous vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Board of Commissioners to move forward with georouting for the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Upcoming Events

Image of Office-meeting.jpg
Webinar

Understanding New Medicaid and CHIP Requirements for Youth in Detention: What Counties Need to Know

Join us for an in-depth webinar on the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding Medicaid and CHIP services for youth detained in public institutions. Effective January 1, 2025, these mandated changes, stemming from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, require states to amend their Medicaid and CHIP plans to provide essential medical, dental and case management services for eligible youth, before and after release. Learn how these changes will impact county jails and how counties can collaborate with state health officials to ensure compliance and secure federal support.

2024 LUCC-RAC-Board Header
Conference

County Crossroads Symposium: A Mobile Journey Exploring the County Landscape

Sonoma County, Calif.

NACo’s fall symposium, jointly hosted by the Board of Directors, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) and Rural Action Caucus (RAC), will feature mobile workshops and engaging opportunities for all counties.

cover photo
Webinar

Bridging Gaps: Collaborative Strategies for Supporting Youth Reentry Through Medicaid

Join the National Association of Medicaid Directors and NACo for a deep dive into CMS’s latest guidance on extending Medicaid and CHIP services to incarcerated youth. This policy shift opens up new opportunities for state and county partnerships to ensure continuous healthcare coverage for young people in the justice system. Discover practical approaches for collaboration between Medicaid agencies and county jails to facilitate successful enrollment, improve health outcomes, and support youths’ transitions back into the community. This session will include insights from county health leaders, best practices for cross-system coordination, and strategies for leveraging federal support to enhance service delivery.

Media Contact

Image of Nicole-Weissman_0.png

Nicole Weissman

Managing Director of Communications