Gavin Newsom Announces Over $1 Billion In Grants

Photo byGage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced $1.49 billion in grants to address the behavioral health crisis impacting California. According to a press release issued by the Governor's office, the newly announced grants will help people with mental health disorders find appropriate housing, provide care for older adults, and increase capacity at mental health & substance use disorder facilities.

“California is committed to addressing the mental health crisis that communities all across our state are facing," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "We’re doing it as comprehensively and inclusively as we can. These new investments are a key part of how California is transforming the approach to helping people – meeting people where they are – and connecting them with the services and housing they need, when they need them.”

Here Are The Details Of The Newly Announced Grants.

$907 million will be allocated to the Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) program. According to a press release, the grant aims to address the housing and treatment needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who also have serious behavioral health conditions.

$430 million will be allocated to the Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) to increase mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities in dozens of counties around California.

$153 million will be allocated to the Department of Social Services Community Care Expansion program to 19 organizations across the state to create more residential care options for seniors and adults with disabilities. According to a press release by the Governor's office, the grant's recipients will include Californians at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

The news of the grants comes as Governor Newsom recently unveiled a legislative package to improve the behavioral health care system in California. “We are facing a confluence of crises: mental health, opioids, housing, and homelessness – and this transformative effort will ensure California is tackling these head-on in a comprehensive and inclusive way," said Governor Newsom.

"Over the last few years, California has led the nation in expanding access to affordable and quality mental health services – especially for children, teens, and people with untreated mental illness," he continued. "The historic legislative effort announced today will supercharge these efforts to ensure California continues to lead the way in the decades to come.”

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