Mutual Housing at the Highlands

Sacramento Mutual Housing Association (SMHA) has partnered with Lutheran Social Services and two local area mental health agencies in developing Mutual Housing at the Highlands, innovative housing for low income families and chronically homeless individuals, located at 6010 34th Street, at Freedom Park Drive, North Highlands, CA. Mutual Housing at the Highlands provides a total of 90 affordable housing units, 66 of which are permanent supportive housing units for homeless individuals  with disabilities.  LSS has leased 21 of these units for the chronically homeless (very low-income single adults) residents of the City and County of Sacramento, who have had extended periods of homelessness and have  struggled with at least one of these specific, disabling conditions: mental illness, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, physical abuse, physical disabilities, and limited experience living independently.
Mutual Housing at the Highlands’ homeless units are clustered around small courtyards and are roomy efficiency units, each with a small living area, bedroom space, kitchen, bathroom and a small patio.  Also within each courtyard, there is a raised planting area in which residents can grow their own gardens.
LSS worked closely with Sacramento’s Homeless organizing Committee (SHOC), Safe Ground, and Loaves and Fishes to identify, assess and qualify participants for housing services.

For those who qualified, LSS assisted participants with their housing deposits, apartment furnishings and with ongoing rental subsidies. SMHA community organizer, working closely with the Social Services Coordinator, will coordinate participant activities, encouraging socialization, sharing of input, utilization of social services and encourage community building.  Additionally, case management staff will meet with all residents to provide immediate facilitation of resident’s enrollment in mainstream benefits such as SSI, SSDI, VA and MediCal and be available to transport residents to necessary services appointments.