HOUSED: The Empowerment of Two Women
Case management in rural communities requires a comprehensive approach to address high rates of poverty and housing insecurity. Melinda Owsley, the Behavioral Health Case Manager at the Valley View Health Center (VVHC) Manchester School-Based Health Center, navigates these complex challenges daily. The Case Management Program focuses on assessing the individual needs of clients, from care coordination and resource linkage, to benefits navigation and robust client-centered support.
For individuals managing preexisting mental health conditions, the stress of financial instability, food insecurity, and a lack of reliable transportation often intensifies their symptoms of their anxieties and fears. According to the Maslow’s Hierarch of Needs, Psychological Needs (e.g. shelter, food, and physical safety) must be met before individuals can successfully pursue employment or other personal goals. This reality is especially challenging for those relying on fixed incomes like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which creates additional financial barriers.
Melinda recently provided the much-needed assistance and support to two clients through the overwhelming process of securing permanent housing.
The first case involved a nine-month journey beginning in November 2025. The client was living in conditions unfit for human habitation and facing systemic barriers, including the lack of a birth certificate. Without this vital document, the client was ineligible for homeless shelters or housing support. With assistance through CAC, the necessary documentation was secured after a five-month process, allowing the patient to join the housing waitlists in the Adams County area.
Through intensive client-centered education, Melinda helped the patient recognize that her living situation involved non-physical domestic violence. Disclosing these dangerous conditions expedited her application, allowing a housing program director to grant her immediate placement by August 2026. CAC’s Housing Department was able to assist with the required deposit, enabling her to afford a place of her own. The generosity of community members provided her with additional household items and a renewed belief in trust.
The second case, beginning in February 2026, required four months of intensive medical and behavioral health care coordination. The client was entirely unhoused and lived with significant physical limitations from a previous stroke, including severe speech impairment and the use of only her non-dominate arm. Physical limitations prevented her from accessing certain shelter accommodations. The Highland County Homeless Shelter agreed to house her for six weeks, provided Melinda maintained the client’s medication management, which required bi-weekly travel from Manchester to Hillsboro.
Although initially approved for a program that would have afforded her access to assisted living, the client was ultimately denied to receive the assistance, due to a documented medical history of substance use disorder. The care team rapidly pivoted to secure an independent apartment with first-months rent and deposit assistance from the Community Action Organization of Highland County.
Melinda continued to provide empowering support by coordinating with the Area Agency on Aging District 7 to secure a Medicaid home health waiver, successfully arranging for a home health aide to support the patient in safely preparing food and managing daily tasks. This assistance began in June, with much appreciation from the client.
Securing housing for these two vulnerable individuals required extensive collaboration across multiple organizations, including local food pantries, apartment managers, behavioral health providers, medical professionals, and community outreach programs.
The process demanded persistent advocacy, ranging from medication management to physical moving assistance to securing essential household items. The success of these individuals highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the positive lasting impacts that can be made for others who are facing substantial personal barriers.
These two situations highly underscore the significance and value of the Behavioral Health Case Management services within Valley View Health Centers.