Kansas City, MO – The Missouri Housing Development Commission has rejected a plan to direct a third of the state's low-income housing aid to people who have mental illnesses and are homeless.
The board instead approved a measure to fund two special needs housing developments next year.
Commissioner and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel proposed the original plan. He says the one that passed is a good first step.
"Mental illness now is listed for the first time ever as a special need. I think that's important because when you list that there, it becomes a priority of the commission," says Zweifel. "It becomes something that we, I think, commissioners can really wrap our hands around and begin to address."
The board also approved tax credits for a St. Louis housing renovation project for people with mental illness.
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