Housing for Health: DHCS Strategies to Assist Members Experiencing Homelessness
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California is undergoing major transformations to Medi-Cal health and Behavioral Health delivery systems to improve health care quality, access, and outcomes for its members. The drivers of this transformation are a series of Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) initiatives in the managed care and behavioral health delivery systems, many of which have launched and others which will go live in the coming months and years. These include but are not limited to the initiatives under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Section 1115 and 1915(b) waivers, the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Section 1115 waiver, the Behavioral Health Transformation DHCS’ implementation of Proposition 1 (“Prop 1″), and the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program. Central to the transformations are a recognition that a member’s health and well-being is driven not just by clinical factors, but also by social factors such as access to safe and stable housing.
Medi-Cal Managed Care Program Resources
- Community Supports Policy Guide Volume 1
- Community Supports Policy Guide Volume 2
- CalAIM All Comer Webinar: Community Supports Policy Guide Volume 2 Updates—Includes Introduction to Transitional Rent (May 2025)
- Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Policy Guide
- ECM & Community Supports Quarterly Implementation Report
- Street Medicine All Plan Letter 24-001
- Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program
- Transitional Rent Payment Methodology
- Webinar (10/31/25): Transitional Rent Payment Methodology Part 1 Recording
- Webinar: Transitional Rent Payment Methodology Presentation Slides
- Webinar (12/05/25): Transitional Rent Payment Methodology Part 2 Recording
Specialty Behavioral Health Resources
- Behavioral Health Transformation Overview
- Proposition 1 Fact Sheet
- Overview for Housing Providers on the changes to the BHSA under Proposition 1
- Proposition 1 Housing Supports Primer
- Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program
- Behavioral Health Services Act Policy Manual
- BHSA Housing Interventions & Community Supports FAQ
- CalMHSA – Housing and Behavioral Health: A guidebook for California Counties
Flexible Housing Subsidy Pools (“Flex Pools”)
- Flex Pools RFA Award Announcement (July 31, 2025)
- “Flex Pools” Request for Applications (RFA): (1) TA Academy, (2) Planning GrantsRevised 5/28/2025 (revision on pg. 11)
- Flexible Housing Subsidy Pools – Technical Assistance Resource (February 2025)
- Webinar (2/11/25): Flex Pools Introduction and Technical AssistancePresentation Slides
- Webinar (2/11/25): Flex Pools Introduction and Technical AssistanceWebinar Recording (captioned)
- Webinar (2/11/25): Flex Pools Introduction and Technical AssistanceWebinar Transcript
- Webinar (5/12/25): Flex Pools RFA Applicant WebinarPresentation Slides
- Webinar (5/12/25): Flex Pools RFA Applicant WebinarWebinar Recording (captioned)
- Webinar (5/12/25): Flex Pools RFA Applicant WebinarWebinar Transcript