Project First Steps

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Project First Steps is a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding between five agencies (MOU): The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HA), the Economic Development Agency – Department of Community Development and Housing (CDH), the county of San Bernardino Redevelopment Agency (CoRDA), the Human Services Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and the Department of Behavioral health (DBH). This MOU was approved by the San Bernardino Board of County Supervisors on December 9, 2008 for a housing collaboration to implement permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) who are homeless, or at significant risk of becoming homeless. Project First Steps is a collaborate program between the five agencies in order to address the need for safe and affordable housing for residents who are severely mentally ill. The partners to this MOU have developed this agreement as an expression of their collective interest to plan for and create permanent supportive housing that can help end and prevent homelessness for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities and serious emotional disturbances, and who are eligible for such housing under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).