What does it take to provide housing that heals? A conversation with Michael Weinstein and Lynda Kaufmann of Psynergy

Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart

Psynergy operates four facilities or campuses – Morgan Hill is the first one, which is discussed in the interview. In addition, they operate Greenfield Monterey County, Tres Vista supported living at the Morgan Hill campus and Nueva Vista in Sacramento. On deck is the proposed Vista de Robles campus in Sacramento.

In this interview, we talk with Lynda Kaufman who is the Director of Government and Public Affairs and Michael Weinstein, Chief Financial Officer, who is one of the founders of Psynergy.

You will hear about how Michael Weinstein cultivated his vision of what a congregate living community should offer – a high standard of cleanliness, nutritious fresh food, an attractive and safe living environment, access to medical and clinical supports, an orientation toward creating a place of healing – and how that unwavering vision separates Psynergy from other adult residential facilities we might visit in the state today.

Lynda will take you on a visual tour of the campus at Morgan Hill. Contrasted with tours that some of us have taken of board & care environments where the properties are held together with duct tape and bubble-gum, and residents sit in the courtyard all day long, smoking cigarettes and sipping from 7-11 Big Gulps, Psynergy’s campus offers a striking contrast. You’ll hear about a living room with leather couches for residents to enjoy, a courtyard with a barbecue and gazebo to gather outside, and a hospitality desk in the lobby. How do they accomplish this? Lynda and Michael will share some insights into their business model.

The Psynergy leadership team is interested in talking with people who might be interested to invest in this type of “housing that heals” in other CA communities. If you want to start that conversation, reach out directly to Lynda at [e-mail].

Reports on the state of the Board & Care system in California

State of California

CALBHB/C Issue Brief: Adult Residential Facilities (calbhbc.org)

Vanishing board-and-care-homes leave California residents with few options - CalMatters

LA County

1074299_h.12.18.2019_Report-AgendaofNovember12_2019.pdf (lacounty.gov)

LA City

https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2020/20-1203_misc_2-4-22.pdf

General

For every bed lost a person is displaced: California’s continuing board & care crisis – Accoglienza: lessons for America
No Time to Waste: An Imminent Housing Crisis for People with Serious Mental Illness Living in Adult Residential Facilities