Housing Team

Visit the Housing Unit's blog at Missouri Housing Matters for useful news, updates and alerts on critical housing and homelessness issues in Missouri and the nation. Missouri Housing Matters has replaced the DMH Housing newsletter, "Housing News." Back issues of "Housing News" from 2008 on are available here.

What's New?

Popular Links

DMH Housing Welcomes New Team Member Maggie George-Murray

The Department of Mental Health’s Housing Team is proud to welcome Maggie George-Murray, a new edition to our Jefferson City staff. Maggie began working on December 14, 2011, as a Housing Development Officer I and will be in charge of review and eligibility determination for the hundreds of applications for Shelter Plus Care assistance that come to our office each year. Maggie was raised in Caruthersville, Missouri, and relocated to Jefferson City in 1999. She attended Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music. She has worked for the Social Security Administration as a Benefit Authorizer and Claim Representative, for DESE as a Disability Determinations Counselor, and most recently as a Constituent Services Officer at the Department of Corrections for the past 11 years, where she also worked on re-entry and offender treatment issues. Please welcome Maggie to the Team!

Homeless Youth Video

This video was created by students at Lafayette, Benton and Central High Schools in St. Joseph, Missouri, with funding and assistance from the Heartland Foundation and the 5th Circuit Juvenile Office. It paints an honest and uncompromising picture of teenage homelessness as related directly by homeless students who used cameras to record thier own situations and feelings. Many thanks to the Heartland Foundation for providing a link to this work.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Mental Health's Housing Unit is to assist Missourians challenged by mental illnesses, substance abuse/addictions and developmental disabilities in obtaining and maintaining safe, decent and affordable housing options that best meet their individual and family needs. The DMH Housing Unit believes that housing is a key to helping Missourians with disabilities and their families attain self-determination and independent living.

Vision

All Missourians challenged by mental illnesses, substance abuse/addictions and developmental disabilities have housing options that are affordable and accessible, integrated into communities, and provide real choice.

What We Do

DMH Housing works with all three of DMH's divisions to help link mental health services consumers to rental assistance through the Shelter Plus Care program. We also make efforts to expand housing options for mental health services consumers in the state; assist in creating partnerships between housing developers and non-profit agencies in the development of affordable rental units statewide; and work to increase rental assistance and homeownership opportunities for mental health services consumers.