Supportive housing is community-based housing that is affordable to clients on a permanent basis, provides all the rights and responsibilities of tenancy, and is accompanied by appropriate and voluntary social services. 

Myth: My property value will decline if you build supportive housing nearby.
Fact: Property values do not decline when supportive housing is built nearby.

Myth: Crime will go up in my neighborhood if you build supportive housing nearby.
Fact: Crime does not increase when supportive housing is built.

Myth: Residents living nearby supportive housing will be scared of the housing and the people in it, changing the neighborhood character.
Fact: Residents’ fears disappear once the supportive housing is built.

The Impact of Supportive Housing on Neighborhood Crime and Property Values

Supportive Housing Developments in San Mateo County

Since 2006, the MHSA Housing Program and No Place Like Home Program (NPLH) has funded 71 housing units across housing developments in Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Mateo and North Fair Oaks community. Seven new housing developments will provide an additional 87 permanent housing units that will be available by mid-year 2026.  On-site housing support services include tenant engagement, daily living skills coaching, housing retention and eviction prevention interventions, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention/de-escalation, service coordination, and property management liaison services.  

Housing Operation & Policy (HOP) Committee

In collaboration with the Department of Housing (DOH) and other community providers, the HOP committee addresses safe and affordable housing needs for individuals in San Mateo County with mental health and substance use challenges.  HOP organizes an annual appreciation breakfast for landlords to increase the number of units accepting vouchers and hosts the Housing Heroes Awards Ceremony which honors partners and colleagues who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing and/or maintaining housing for BHRS clients.

HOP committee meetings are held virtually the 2nd Thursday of each month at 9:00am.  For the online meeting link or questions about the meeting, contact Mariana Rocha at mrocha@smcgov.org.  

Housing Initiative Taskforce 

A Housing Initiative Taskforce, made up of diverse clients, family members, service providers and County departments, convened between March and May 2021 to define a housing continuum of services ; identify gaps at all levels of support or intensity in treatment; prioritize broad housing-related outcomes and identify and prioritize activities to fund under each prioritized outcome

Housing Initiative Taskforce Funding Recommendations

Additional Materials for these meetings are available below:

• Optional Meeting : Funding Recommendations Review - edited handout + notes , meeting recording 
• Meeting #3 (May 2021) – presentation slides, meeting recording and Question & Answers + “At-Risk of Homelessness” definitions
• Optional Meeting: Outcomes Review – edited handout, meeting recording
• Meeting #2 (Apr. 2021) presentation slides, Housing Continuum, meeting recording + breakout recordings, Question & Answers + additional meeting notes
• Meeting #1 (Mar. 2021) presentation slides, Fact Sheet on MHSA and Homelessness, meeting recording, Question & Answers 

​Background information:

• “Housing for BHRS Clients” (Nov. 2020) presentation slides, recording, Question & Answers  
• “Board and Care Housing Supports” (Feb. 2021) presentation slides, recording and Question & Answers​