The Health Care for the Homeless/Community Mental Health Agency Collaboration Project

Due to many factors, many homeless individuals are in need of multiple supports. By creating partnerships across the health, mental health, and substance abuse fields, these individuals will more easily access the services they need to improve their physical and emotional well-being.

The Health Care for the Homeless/Community Mental Health Agency Collaboration Project (the Collaboration Project) was created to unite mental health, health, and substance abuse agencies from twelve communities. In each of these communities, the agencies work together to coordinate the services they provide to homeless individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

The National Center is evaluating the Collaboration Project to determine the extent of integration among the partner agencies in each of the twelve communities. The evaluation examines how the partnerships were fostered and how they are affecting the lives of homeless individuals. The aim of this effort is an integrated service delivery system that holistically meets the needs of homeless individuals.

The communities taking part in the project are: Tucson, AZ; Aurora, CO; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Hazard, KY; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA; Albuquerque, NM; Las Vegas, NV; Pittsburgh, PA; El Paso, TX; and Tacoma, WA.

Started in 2002, this three-year project is funded by three agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS); Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC); and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).