Counties Lead the Way in Addressing Housing Affordability and Mental Health: Intergovernmental Partnerships Key to Success

During a visit to Washington, D.C., representatives from the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban Counties Caucus and Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing discussed the importance of intergovernmental partnerships in addressing key issues such as housing affordability and mental health.

NACo President Mary Jo McGuire emphasized the critical role of counties in addressing national crises and stressed the need for strengthened intergovernmental partnerships to achieve shared goals. As frontline leaders, counties have firsthand experience with the impacts of federal policies on their communities and residents.

The Large Urban County Caucus, led by Milwaukee County, Wis. Executive David Crowley, consists of counties with populations over 500,000. They are focused on forming partnerships to enhance housing affordability, identifying effective strategies for public-private collaborations, overcoming implementation barriers, and exploring various financing options. The group will visit Terwilliger Place, a housing development in Arlington County, Va., to learn more about best practices and share their own experiences with other county leaders.

The Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, co-chaired by King County, Wash. Executive Dow Constantine and Los Angeles County, Calif. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, is advocating for policy priorities such as the reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act. This act was the largest congressional investment in overdose prevention but expired in September 2023. The group will engage in discussions with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare