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HHS outlines options as state behavioral-health housing dollars remain partly unspent
Summary
Yamhill County Health & Human Services staff told the Board the county has about $1.3–1.4 million of unexpended behavioral-health housing funds that must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2025, and that reductions in related Measure 110 'burn' funds put an expansion of transitional treatment and recovery services (TTRS) houses at risk.
Lindsay Manfren, director of Yamhill County Health & Human Services, updated the Board on March 13 about state behavioral-health housing funds and how recent reductions in Measure 110 “burn” allocations affect planned uses.
“Some state general funds were designated to counties through a non-competitive process for behavioral health housing,” Manfren said, describing original intent to fund sheltering, residential treatment, and supports such as shower kits. She said the county originally received a little over $2.8 million in those funds and has used portions for an RFP that produced three awards, plus internal allocations for HHS projects.
Manfren said the county now has roughly $1.3 to $1.4 million of unexpended behavioral-health housing funds. The county intended to use a mix of these capital funds and Measure 110 burn funds to open an additional Transitional Treatment and Recovery Services (TTRS) house, but the burn funds award for the next grant cycle was reduced—about 30% of the county’s request—which jeopardizes operating support for an additional house even where capital exists.
She explained that the behavioral-health housing funds can be used for residential treatment and for capital costs but cannot be used for medically managed detox. “They could be used for residential treatment, both mental health and or substance use residential treatment. They could not be used for detox or medically managed withdrawal,” Manfren said.
Manfren and commissioners discussed waiting lists and capacity for existing TTRS houses; one existing house is undergoing renovation and the county typically maintains waiting lists. The county also awarded earlier contracts to the Community Wellness Collective and First Baptist Church for sheltering, which have since sunset. A larger award to YCAP (Youth and Family-related agency named in the packet) accounted for roughly $889,088 of the earlier allocations.
Manfren said the burn funds that were expected to cover staffing for an additional house will sunset June 30; next award period begins July 1 with the reduced allocation. The county must obligate the remaining behavioral-health housing dollars by Dec. 31, 2025, and staff asked the board for direction on options for obligating the funds before that deadline.
No formal board vote on obligating those funds was recorded on March 13; commissioners asked clarifying questions and requested additional detail on timing and contracting implications.
