Macon Reporter

A mental health care facility has been approved for rezoning by the Decatur City Council.

WAND-TV reported that while there are eight facilities with permanent supportive housing and group homes, a new $5 million facility could offer self-sufficient housing.

"This is kind of novel, at least on the mental health side of things, and the idea that they could actually be living independently and learning to live more self-sufficient with 24-hour staff on site to help serve and provide services to them," Timothy Macken, executive director of the Macon County Mental Health Board and Woodford Homes, said.

The new facility would merge two of the eight group homes into a 20-unit housing complex on Carrie and Charles streets. Macken said he believes the city either needs to invest in older housing or build new housing. 

"These individuals live in our communities and we help them have a great likelihood of success, such as having programs and projects like this where they can live in safe, affordable housing and get all of the support they need," Macken said.

The Macon County Mental Health Board and Woodford Homes have been working alongside Heritage Behavioral Health Center to make sure the new housing will be a win-win situation, Mary Kay Markwell, director of community service, said. 

"Macon County has a lot of people who need this service and the clients live here, so we need to be able to provide mental health services as well as housing services," Markwell said. 

Decatur City Council has also been considering providing 5% of the funds for the project with a grant match from the CDBG/HOME funds.