top of page

Mission

Serve as a resource and collaborate with treatment teams and community organizations to identify and support opportunities for housing and supportive services, reduce a client’s risk of homelessness, remove barriers to access and promote retention in stable housing.

Role

  • Collaborate with treatment teams for retention of current housing

  • Coordinate and process supportive services for clients at high risk for homelessness

  • Monitor facilities

  • Provide training

  • Mentoring of housing partners

Enhanced Adult Residential Facilities These facilities are homelike environments that are generally used as a step down from state hospital, MHRC/IMD, acute hospital and crisis residential or a step up from unenhanced B&C Homes and serves lower functioning clients who are less active in recovery and/or require prompting for services. MH services are not provided on site though transportation to services and CFLC services are provided. In addition, a daily outing is provided at each facility.

Non-Enhanced Licensed Adult Residential Facilities Non-Enhanced Licensed Adult Residential Facilities (ARF) are facilities of any capacity that provide 24-hour non-medical care for adults ages 18 through 59, who are unable to provide for their own daily needs. Adults may be physically handicapped, developmentally disabled, and/or mentally disabled. There are over 100 licensed ARFs in Kern County; however not all serve the mentally ill.

Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE):  These facilities are state licensed, homelike environments that offer adult mental health clients through a 24- hour a day structured community living that supports a sober lifestyle. These facilities provide services to persons 60 years of age and over and persons under 60 with comparable needs.  RCFEs may also be known as assisted living facilities, retirement homes, and board and care homes. The facilities can range in size from six beds to over 100 beds.

Sober Living Environments (SLE): These facilities are homelike environments that offer adult mental health clients a 24-hours a day structure community living environment that supports a clean and sober lifestyle free from the use of illicit drugs and alcohol. 

Unlicensed Room & Boards: These facilities are not licensed or certified by any state or local agencies. The facilities are homelike environments that offer adult mental health clients and supervised group living experience. KCMH currently links clients with approximately 30 homes ranging from 1-21 beds, usually 2 persons/room. Estimated current total capacity is 277 persons.

Housing provider list with hands holding home

Becoming a Provider:

If you would like to learn more about the Quality Standards Program and are interested in becoming a provider please reference the Quality Standards Manual and complete the following forms:

Application, Acknowledgement, Ethics, Purpose & Intention, Treatment Team Notification Agreement and email them to HousingServices@kernbhrs.org

Housing header with hands holding home

The Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Housing Services Team serves as liaison within the system of care, community-based organizations, providers and partner agencies to support placement of clients into safe, stable, recovery-oriented and supportive housing.

bottom of page