ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In November 2024, nearly 70 percent of Washtenaw County voters approved an eight-year renewal of the county’s Community Mental Health and Public Safety Preservation Millage, securing funding for essential mental health services and other behavioral health programs until 2034. Originally passed in 2017, this millage was set to expire in 2026, but the renewal ensures that the county’s needs, ranging from behavioral health care and 24/7 crisis support to criminal justice diversion and housing initiatives, will continue to be addressed.
The millage renewal not only extends the funding but also introduces an expanded framework for allocating these funds through a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process. This competitive process will allow local organizations to apply for funding starting in 2027, with proposals being evaluated in three key areas: expansion of behavioral health services, housing services, and education/communication services. In 2024, the RFP process was launched early, helping to streamline and improve the application and reporting procedures for funding.
Expanding Access to Behavioral Health and Housing Services
As part of this year’s RFP process, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) received an impressive response from local organizations, with numerous proposals focusing on the most vulnerable populations, including Black men, women, and children. For 2025, a total of 20 organizations have been selected to receive millage funding, with a broad mix of initiatives aimed at expanding mental health services and improving housing support.
Organizations Selected for Funding:
Expansion of Education/Communication Services:
- Healthy Towns Foundation
- Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT)
- Issue Media Group
- Miles Jeffery Roberts Foundation Mental Health Champions
- NAMI of Washtenaw County
- Washtenaw Area Council for Children
- Washtenaw County Health Department
Expansion of Behavioral Health Services:
- Garrett’s Space
- Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
- National Assessment Center Association
- Packard Health
- Student Advocacy Center of Michigan
- The Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan
- Washtenaw County Health Department
- Washtenaw Health Plan DBA
- Washtenaw Health Project
- Washtenaw Intermediate School District
- Ypsilanti District Library
Expansion of Housing Services:
- Avalon Housing
- Michigan Ability Partners (MAP)
- Ozone House
- Shelter Association of Washtenaw County
These selected organizations will receive critical funding to address the behavioral health and housing needs across Washtenaw County, ensuring that residents have access to services that might otherwise be out of reach.
Strategic Growth in Mental Health and Public Safety
The millage funds, generated through a property tax, are expected to raise over $22 million in its first year (2026). The revenue will be distributed as follows:
38% will be allocated to WCCMH to fund services,
38% to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), and
24% to cities and townships with their own police forces (Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, and Northfield Township).
The funds will be used to support a range of services, including:
- Behavioral health service expansion
- Youth support services
- Supportive housing programs
- Behavioral health education and prevention
- Criminal justice reform initiatives
Since the millage passed in 2017, it has already significantly enhanced the county’s ability to meet its growing mental health needs. Lisa Gentz, program administrator for millage initiatives, notes, “Washtenaw County’s behavioral health needs are beyond what CMH alone can address. The millage provides our community with flexible funds to explore creative ideas that fill gaps in services.”
Enhancing Collaboration and Service Coordination
This renewal is expected to drive collaboration across various sectors, including mental health, criminal justice, and housing. As Nicole Phelps, WCCMH financial officer, explains, the RFP process has created an opportunity for contractors and service providers to align their efforts, allowing the county to identify areas of opportunity and maximize impact.
One of the key priorities for the next eight years is to ensure that individuals in need of mental health care do not fall through the cracks. Megan Taylor, director of network management at WCCMH, adds that the RFP process highlighted new areas of collaboration that the county has not historically invested in. By expanding the pool of partners, the county aims to create a coordinated system of care that better supports residents throughout their mental health journey.
As Udow-Phillips, a community leader, puts it, “The millage has enormously expanded our ability to provide services in the community. It’s enabled more work in schools, more youth outreach, and more partnerships with law enforcement.”
Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2025 and Beyond
Looking forward, Lisa Gentz emphasizes that future millage funding will continue to prioritize expanding access to care, responding to the behavioral health crisis, and addressing youth mental health needs. Ensuring a well-coordinated network of services will be essential to the long-term success of the millage.
“In the next eight years, we’ll focus on coordinating care between service providers to ease the ability for individuals to navigate the behavioral health system,” Gentz concludes. “We need to ensure individuals have seamless access to the help they need, at every stage of their journey.”
Conclusion
With a renewed commitment to mental health, housing, and behavioral services, Washtenaw County is poised to build a stronger, more resilient community. The millage renewal ensures that these critical services will continue to expand, meeting the diverse needs of the county’s residents through creative, community-driven initiatives.
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