Coming to your neighborhood soon – now BCBH director Scott Kennelly wants landlords to turn their rental homes into care homes for mentally ill and released inmates with drug problems

I told you that the county Behavioral Health department has sought out landlords to house county patients in past – now current director Scott Kennelly is asking “homeowners” to apply for licensing to house people who “need supervision” because they are not able to live by themselves, supervise their own meds, or get to their appointments. He is looking for single family housing because he says these people are “very paranoid” and need a “family setting” in order to bridge their way to a normal lifestyle in their own home.

The county has been offered a grant to pay for four years of this program – as a landlord, I’d have to ask – what happens when the money dries up? I just have to kick them out?

The budget only cover four employees to supervise the whole operation, including getting these people to their appointments. Staff will be responsible for teaching these people how to cook their own meals and do household chores, including their own laundry. This sounds like a job that should require some intensive training and education for the caregivers, but it doesn’t say anything about that in the article.

I’m not sure the licensing of these homes requires any neighborhood notification or public hearing. If you have single family rentals in your neighborhood you better keep an eye on them.