Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state will begin construction of inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment centers as part of a larger effort to transform California’s mental health system and address the homelessness crisis. The company announced it would raise $3.3 billion by July.
The money is the first tranche of the $6.4 billion in bonds approved when voters narrowly approved Proposition 1 in March.
Mr. Newsom visited a new facility in San Mateo County to make the announcement — and his office is showing how many more such facilities are needed and how his hard work on mental health efforts will help care for Californians. He said this was to highlight how things can change.
Newsom framed Proposition 1 as a key part of the state’s strategy to address the homelessness crisis. The plan includes controversial provisions that would force people with severe mental illness and substance disorders into treatment. Billions of dollars in bond funds will also be made available to build more beds and treatment housing.
“$3.3 billion is going to be disbursed in the next few weeks, and we’re going to approve these plans right away,” Newsom told reporters outside a Redwood City treatment facility. The facility plans to add more housing this summer once funding is raised. “In a matter of months, not years.”
Newsom also urged counties to enroll early in CARE Court, another program he has championed to help solve the state’s mental health and homelessness crises. Counties are required to open specialty courts that provide voluntary treatment and services by the end of the year. San Mateo County, south of San Francisco, recently became the ninth county to do so.
“Counties don’t have to wait until December. Let’s go. Get those applications done,” he said.
When the proposal passed, Newsom said, “This historic reform will only succeed if all state governments and local leaders take immediate action.”
This week, the governor’s staff said he was doing his part and that this first round of funding was not promised until the fall.
For the record:
May 14, 2024 9:11amAn earlier version of this article stated that Proposition 1 would expand standards for detention, treatment, and conservatorship for people with severe mental illness. The policy is included in another bill that Newsom signed last year.
In addition to spearheading the construction or rehabilitation of more than 10,000 treatment beds and more than 45,000 outpatient treatment slots, Proposition 1 would reform California’s 20-year history. mental health services act Improving care and support for people with serious mental health problems. Another bill signed last year, Senate Bill 43, expands standards for detention, treatment and conservatorship for people with severe mental illness, an effort that some civil liberties advocates The faction was strongly opposed.
Funds made available for project applications in July will be earmarked for building or renovating treatment centers and clinics, among other things. Counties, cities, tribes, nonprofit and for-profit businesses are all eligible to apply for funding.
To qualify, construction projects must receive support from the county’s Department of Mental Health and be committed to treating patients with Medi-Cal, not just private insurance.
All projects must provide matching funds or collateral. That could include land and buildings, as well as health care providers who send patients there and financial streams such as pledges from opioid settlements. Opioid settlements see drug companies and distributors pay states millions of dollars to address the opioid crisis. epidemic of addiction.
Officials said grant applications could be approved within three months once they arrive, meaning the funds could be distributed around the end of the year.
Later this year, officials said they plan to launch new grants to build and rehabilitate more than 13,000 permanent supportive housing units.
And next year, officials say they will spend an additional $1 billion to support additional buildings and programs.
