California is preparing to free billions of dollars through Proposal 1 of Mental Health Housing. Here, the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services gave instructions on August 21, 2019 regarding access to mental health crisis services. Photo: Anne Wernikov of Karmatz.
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The Newsom administration has quickly distributed billions of dollars in distributions from 2024 mental health bonds by May, excluding billions of dollars from 2024 mental health bonds, narrowly approved by voters, according to testimony from legislative surveillance this week, but concerns have emerged about whether the region of the state, which has the biggest needs, will be left behind.
Proposal 1defended by Gov. Gavin Newsom, pledged to inject $6.4 billion into the state’s overloaded mental health and addiction treatment system. Newsom has promised voters that the move will help deal with the nation Homelessness crisisis often publicly associated Unaddressed mental health and substance use issues.
A majority of the money, $4.4 billion, will be used to build treatment facilities to meet the state’s estimates 10,000 bed shortage. The remaining bonds will be used in the home and will be managed by the state housing department.
Newsom wanted to move as quickly as possible. Last year he announced that the state would do so. Release bond money earlier than planned. At a press conference last year, Newsom told the county to move with a “sense of urgency.”
“You’re part of the problem, or you’re not, he said at the time.
But that timeline could ignore counties with the fewest mental health resources.
During a hearing Tuesday, Fresno County Director of Action Health Susan Holt said:
Small, rural counties just don’t have the talent or expertise to navigate the complex grant requirements that manage this one billion-dollar investment. recently Legislative Analyst Office Report It turns out that the majority of the money distributed from a program similar to past Proposal 1 was sent to the regions of the state where it needed the least. Southern San Joaquin Valley, an area with the highest unmet needs, did not win state money in previous rounds of funding.
To meet the needs of the population, the region needs to almost triple its capacity.
Before Prop. 1, Holt testified that Fresno County had filed nine grant applications, primarily for acute care beds, and had not received money from the state.
“We can speak with confidence and assurance that we understand the urgency,” Holt said. “With this much of the money, you need to be a little slower to eventually go faster.”
The county is also concerned that the state is providing money to treatment facilities but not funding the workforce or services.
Ryan Miller, an analyst in the Office of Legislative Analysts, considered how the state has spent similar building funds in the past. His analysis shows that the state has historically awarded funding for projects that are “ready” historically. This can be completed with a quick timeline, a standard that gives a more sophisticated county benefits.
Which community is getting more mental health funds?
For example, a 2022 RAND survey found that there was ample adult acute care capabilities in the Los Angeles and the Greater Sacramento area, but the analyst’s office found that they received almost three-quarters of the funds that were distributed to sharp care beds. Instead, these areas have a higher need for subacute care and community housing treatment.
“It takes a lot of resources and staff to put together a compelling launch-ready project,” Miller said.
Other parts of the state that received less money than expected based on needs were the Inland Empire, the Central Coast and the Bay Area, Miller said.
Jackie Irwin of the Congress, who wrote the law that included Prop 1 on the ballot, said voters were extremely skeptical of how the state spends money and were promised to get the money quickly to the county. But Democrats at the Thousand Oaks also questioned whether an accelerated timeline was wise.
Proposal 1 passed The narrowest margin last year was between 50.2% and 49.8%.
“Do you think the administration’s implementation was too offensive, or is the goal realistic?” Irwin said.
I believe the stateback project will be a success
Marlise Perez, division chief of the Department of Healthcare Services, opposed the notion that awards would leave small counties behind.
“We don’t want it to appear that we’re just awarding the most shiny application,” Perez said.
At the same time, the administration must support projects that can actually be completed, Perez said.
According to the analyst’s office, 18 Oguns have not received funding from previous grants. According to Perez, 16 of them did not apply.
“Unfortunately, we can only award those who apply. That was a challenge,” Perez said.
Her office is hoping that those counties are supporting applications and that seven people will now apply for next funding. One of the more challenging grant requirements is to ensure that facilities can provide services for the next 30 years.
With over $3.3 billion still rolling out over two months, there’s little room to pivot how money will be targeted. This Grant round will refocus on the “Ready to Release” project. The remaining $1.1 billion will be awarded by early 2026.
Applicants have submitted projects totaling over $8.8 billion, twice the amount available, indicating serious needs across the state.
Congress of Fresno Democrat Joaquin Alambra said that if the system rewards those who have historically been able to serve, there is a risk that it will “burn historical inequality and inequality.”
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