Kitsap Mental Health Services is active at the local, state and national level, advocating for policies that will allow us to provide the services needed to improve the lives of individuals with mental illness. This page is updated regularly to keep you informed of current mental health issues. Your advocacy for reasonable policies and adequate funding is critical and greatly appreciated.
Local:
News!
Thanks to the joint effort of the Kitsap County Legislative Delegation, the Washington State Legislature approved and Governor Gregoire signed a $1 million capital allocation for The Keller House project.
To date, 68% of this $4 million project has been secured. Kitsap County, the City of Bremerton and the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council have approved funding for the construction of a 16-bed residential and short-term stabilization facility on the KMHS campus in East Bremerton. Kitsap County has donated the land, and the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority has granted KMHS access to the easement for the property. Local funding awarded to date includes the following:
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Kitsap County Commissioners - Donation of Land - $115,000
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Kitsap County, Community Development Block Grant - $200,000
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City of Bremerton, Community Development Block Grant - $138,970
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Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council Affordable Housing For All - $100,000
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Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council Homeless Housing Assistance Grant - $74,000
A number of grant applications to private and government sources are pending.
The project will help facilitate a Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) plan to downsize state hospitals and address the statewide shortage of community residential options for individuals with mental illness.
The new facility will be called The Keller House in honor of retired Executive Director and KMHS Founder, Larry Keller.
Statewide:
Kitsap Mental Health Services is a member of the Washington Community Mental Health Council and works with community mental health stakeholders to address statewide issues to help individuals with mental illness.
National Level:
Kitsap Mental Health Services closely monitors federal policies and laws impacting mental health services. Please click on the following link to read about the latest initiatives at the national level:
http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/latest_issue
To contact your US Senators and Representatives, please click on the following link:
US House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
US Senate: http://www.senate.gov/
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