The Hotel Casa Grande in Madera is the site of Madera County's first behavioral health bridge housing program with 37 units. Photo via tripadvisor.com

The Madera County Board of Supervisors approved a three year, $6.9 million contract last week with Fresno-based RH Community Builders to provide supportive services at Madera County’s first behavioral health bridge housing program.

The bridge housing program provides temporary housing and comprehensive support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, according to a Madera County news release.

Madera County’s program is funded by a grant of nearly $3 million from the California Department of Health Care Services, which will support a three-year lease agreement for the Casa Grande Motel at 12390 Golden State Blvd. The site will have 37 units available, and RH Community Builders will help participants “chart their path to more permanent housing,” according to the news release.

“RH Community Builders is excited to partner with Madera County Department of Behavioral Health Services to provide critically needed services to people experiencing homelessness in Madera County”, said Katie Wilbur, Executive Director of RH Community Builders. “BHBH provides an innovative opportunity to make a real impact on the homelessness crisis in our community.”

RH Community Builders’ responsibilities under the agreement include staffing the site at all times, develop a program care plan, provide three meals per day to participants, organize periodic events at the site and more.