After 20 years of homelessness, "Joey," a veteran with seven years of military service, was thrilled when he obtained a federal housing subsidy to move into a supportive housing program. In his new apartment, Joey finally felt secure. He was able to manage his post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues with exercises, meditation and reading, in addition to the mental health services he was receiving.
Barely two years later, Joey was threatened with homelessness again when the Housing Authority abruptly terminated his housing assistance for allegedly failing to follow the program's housekeeping rules. Joey's anxiety soared as he faced a return to life on the streets. When MHAS's
BeHeLP-Vets project got involved, we invoked fair housing laws to challenge the Housing Authority's action and successfully argued for reinstatement of the subsidy to ensure stable, safe housing for Joey.
Our BeHeLP-Vets Project
With the support of a Skadden Fellowship, MHAS recently launched the Behavioral Health Legal Partnership for Veterans project (BeHeLP-Vets) to provide legal assistance to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Skadden Fellow Naomi Sultan works with Operation Healthy Homecoming, a project of Mental Health America of Los Angeles, to resolve veterans' legal issues in an effort to improve mental health outcomes and housing stability. In the project's first two months, Naomi has assisted approximately 20 veterans.
The mission of Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS) is to protect and advance the legal rights of children and adults with mental disabilities, in order to maximize autonomy, promote equality, and secure the resources needed to thrive in the community. MHAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that provides free legal services to approximately 3,000 low-income adults and children annually, with an emphasis on obtaining government benefits and services, protecting rights and fighting discrimination. MHAS also serves as a resource to the community by providing training and technical assistance to attorneys, mental health professionals, consumer and family member groups, and other advocates. In addition, MHAS participates in impact litigation in an effort to improve the lives of people with mental disabilities.
