Region 4 Supported Housing Programs
Region 4 Behavioral Health System administers 3 Supported Housing Programs:
Mental Health (MH), Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), & Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
*These programs are not an emergency form of assistance.
The purpose of the Region 4 Supported Housing Programs are to help eligible service participants obtain safe and decent housing at an affordable cost. The supported housing funds serve as a “bridge” to other housing sources, such as the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Programs (commonly referred to as "Section 8") or living in independent housing without rental assistance. The Region 4 Supported Housing Programs will use the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program as a model for program development with the intent that the transition from one program to the other will go as effortlessly as possible.
The Region 4 Supported Housing Programs will follow the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Model. This means that the funds are designed to help individual households afford housing costs. The eligible participant receives assistance to cover Housing Related costs (such as rent, utility costs, security deposits, and/or utility deposits). The service participant chooses his/her own housing unit. The housing unit must meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
The service participant needs to clearly document that they have exhausted all other resources first. If it is clear that no other options are available, then the following other related one-time costs may be approved: reasonable moving expenses, needed furniture (such as couch, bed, table and chairs), items needed to make the service participants’ apartment suitable for living (such as bedding), and general kitchen supplies (such as dishes, silverware, and pot/pan).
Minimum Requirements & How to Apply
Minimum Eligibility Criteria:
- An adult (18+) with serious mental illness as defined by Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-812(3) or a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders as defined by the current DSM and which has resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life functions;
- Receiving and participating in approved behavioral health service(s) funded by DHHS;
- Meets residency requirements;
- Meets priority population criteria;
- Has exhausted options available for rental assistance through local housing authorities/community resources; &
- Has an Individual Service/Treatment Plan (ISP) that includes the identified goal of independent living and stable income (if the person is considered zero income).
Application Checklist:
*How to Submit: The Behavioral Health Service Provider should send the completed application and supporting documentation to: Kalli Nygren, Executive Assistant – email: knygren@region4bhs.org or fax: 402-316-1781.
*Missing Information: We will hold your application for 30 days. If we do not receive the missing information by then, we will close the application and you will need to start a new one.
*Old Forms: We cannot accept old versions of forms. You must use the newest forms to see if you qualify for assistance.
Authorized Providers and their Coverage Area
- Behavioral Health Specialists-Columbus, Norfolk and surrounding area: 402-370-3140
- Liberty Centre Services CPP-Norfolk and surrounding area: 402-370-4204
- Heartland Counseling-South Sioux City and surrounding area: 402-494-3337
- Heartland Counseling-O’Neill and surrounding area: 402-336-2800
- The Well-Columbus, Norfolk and surrounding area: 402-371-0220
- Due to receiving preference on the MH wait list, several long-term inpatient facilities & MH hospitals also have the ability to complete Region 4 housing applications, such as Faith Regional Health Services.
Benefits for Landlords
- Tenants have at least one contact persons in case of emergencies, including a 24 hour contact number.
- Most community support workers meet with the tenant weekly. Most of those visits are conducted in the home.
- Rental assistance payments are paid directly to the landlord.
- If the tenant qualifies for utility assistance, those bills are paid directly by the Region.
- Region 4 supports and helps mediate grievances between the landlord/property owners and the tenant.
For additional information regarding the Region 4 Supported Housing Programs, please contact:
Matthew Nykodym
(402) 316-1780
mnykodym@region4bhs.org
or
Kalli Nygren
(402) 316-1777
knygren@region4bhs.org