Supportive Housing
Community Land Alliance

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What is SHCLA?

The Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance (SHCLA), funded by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services via the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation Funds, and incubated by the Northern California Land Trust (NCLT) began its work in October 2020.

Using the community land trust model, the SHCLA as an organization focuses on creating affordable housing opportunities for people living with extremely low income and serious mental health challenges (SMI).


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Help Wanted

Executive Director

SHCLA is seeking an Executive Director that demonstrates cross-cultural agility and the ability to support the diversity of SHCLA members using a lens of equity. The ED will bring the organization from its early stages of incorporation, through initial and subsequent acquisitions and development, to create permanently affordable supportive housing opportunities along the continuum of wellness.

Focus Groups

The SHCLA held their first focus group in January 2021 and more focus groups are planned for the coming months.

The goal: to envision the housing, supportive services and membership structure of the SHCLA.

We need your help bringing the vision to life for our residents!

Do you or a close family member fit the following criteria?

  • Current Alameda County resident living with serious mental health challenges (SMI)
  • Have income 30% below average median income (AMI) in the last 5 years
  • Eager to share your life experiences and feedback on housing
  • Willing to participate via Zoom or via phone for up to 90 minutes

Upon completion of the focus group each participant will receive $75.

Interested? Please complete or share this eligibility survey.

Help spread the word

If you know anyone that may be interested in participating, please spread the word. We've created a small flyer that can be easily emailed. Link to the Downloadable Flyer.

Advisory Committee

The SHCLA Advisory committee has formed

The advisory committee’s ten members hold unique knowledge of SMI, are experts in the areas of affordable housing, supportive services, alternative fundraising, empowerment, policy and advocacy, as well as equity and inclusion. Members include consumers, family members of consumers, county staff and nonprofit service providers.

Many thanks to the SHCLA advisory committee members for their guidance and leadership in the development of a compassionate, innovative and stable approach to long term housing for people living with SMI.

  • Denah Nunes
  • Emile Durette
  • Javarre Wilson
  • Kathleen Sikora
  • Linder Allen
  • Mary Hogdon
  • Michele Williams
  • Robert Ratner
  • Tes Ikharo
  • Vernette Suggs

Why the SHCLA is Needed

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Since 2004, Alameda County’s housing for individuals with serious mental health challenges (SMI) has declined.

Between 2015–2017 homelessness in Alameda County increased by 40%.

41% of homeless individuals report that an emotional or psychiatric condition impacts their ability to obtain housing.

For people living with SMI, stable and supportive housing is crucial to improving mental and physical health, both of which help to increase overall quality of life and well-being.

SHCLA and Recovery

A lack of affordable housing complicates recovery and the delivery of support resources for people struggling with mental health symptoms.

When unhoused mental health care recipients are discharged from institutions, most are assigned to any available, often temporary, housing resources. As such, these individuals are likely to continue being homeless and may not receive further mental health services.

With a land trust model the individual’s home is permanent, familiar, and conducive to continuing mental health support.

Community Proposal

Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services created a proposal to ease its housing crisis for SMI consumers with extremely low levels of income. Income levels for this group can be up to two times the federal poverty level. The county’s proposal to use a community land trust model will bring about permanent affordability and community control.

A non-profit Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance (SHCLA) will be developed by a project management team with initial guidance from a community-based advisory committee.

Once incorporated, a board of directors will be formed comprised of equal thirds:

  1. mental health consumers/family members,
  2. committed community partners with expertise in expanding and improving supportive housing,
  3. public sector representatives with experience in housing, SMI and supportive housing services.

Stay tuned to the developments of this new organization by subscribing to our mailing list.

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