Individuals experiencing long-term homelessness are often among the highest utilizers of costly emergency health care and other public systems of care. Permanent supportive housing provides these individuals with stability, enabling them to address their health and other needs – yet finding funding for these support services can be a challenge.
That’s where MHSA came in. The Community Support Program for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness (CSPECH) funds tenant-based services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Thanks to this first-in-the-nation model developed by MHSA and the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, more individuals than ever before now have access to Medicaid-reimbursed supportive services in permanent housing. CSPECH has been recognized nationally as a model for supporting permanent supportive housing with Medicaid dollars.
MHSA’s advocacy led to the expansion of CSPECH to additional health insurance providers in Massachusetts. As of October 2020, 860 tenants (more than 85%) of MHSA’s Pay for Success initiative have been enrolled in CSPECH.