The Berkeley Food and Housing Project was awarded nearly $1.2 million on Wednesday to convert an existing shelter into a licensed residential facility that would provide round-the-clock supportive services and supervision to adult residents who have severe mental, physical or developmental disabilities.
The nonprofit will renovate the Dwight Way Center in Berkeley to accommodate 15 Adult Residential Facility units, dubbed ARF units, and also called “board-and-care” beds. These will be in addition to the five permanent supportive housing units currently onsite at 2140 Dwight Way. Such housing typically provides more independent services.
Rick Dean, a development specialist for Berkeley Food and Housing Project, said the organization is building off its experience at its Russell Street Residence, where they operate 17 ARF units, because the model is relatively rare to find for those aged 19 to 59.
“There is just such a lack of services specifically, like intensive mental health services for this population, so that was a big motivation for us wanting to expand,” Dean said. “As an agency, in general, we’re trying to move towards developing more permanent supportive housing units of all types, because we think that’s the real path to solving homelessness.”
This local renovation is part of a larger effort to house low-income and disabled adults across California.
Berkeley’s funding is part of a larger $53 million grant package announced Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Department of Social Services. Part of the larger Community Care Expansion Program, this tranche of funds will help 14 projects statewide create more than 400 ARF beds and units for those who meet the qualifying diagnoses and lack access to secure housing.
According to data from the California Department of Social Services, there are currently 6,079 licensed adult care facilities across the state, with a combined capacity of up to 41,709 people.
“California is making significant housing investments to support some of our most vulnerable residents to live with safety and dignity in their communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “We are supporting local communities to acquire, renovate and upgrade properties throughout the state — providing, not just a place to call home, but helping individuals stay out of homelessness.”
These investments come at a time when health care workers and disability advocates are fighting to preserve existing adult residential facilities. In 2019, public outcry pushed San Francisco lawmakers to walk back a proposal to transition those specialized beds into a temporary shelter, and state legislators have made attempts to soften the blow to residents who face future ARF closures.
Yet, cities are still struggling to bring these units online, despite vows from elected officials, and dozens of locations in Berkeley, alone, have closed since the late 1980s.
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