Alameda County Health (AC Health) recently received $14 million to fund temporary housing services to alleviate homelessness amongst individuals with mental illness.
The $14,040,909 grant comes from the state's Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) program, from which AC Health previously received $46,782,359. Alameda County must use the whole funding of $60,823,268 by June 30, 2027.
The county's Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) and Housing and Homelessness Services Program (AC Health H&H) hope to make use of latest state funding to expand temporary housing options in order that individuals with severe mental health issues will be quickly placed in assisted living, based on a press release from AC Health.
AC Health also plans to focus investments on strengthening family and natural support systems for people in unstable families, the discharge added. The funds may even support initiatives to scale back homelessness amongst people aging out of the correctional system.
“We are deeply grateful to Governor (Gavin) Newsom and the state for this important support,” said Jonathan Russell, director of AC Health H&H, in a press release. “Our goal is to end unhoused homelessness, and this funding will allow us to expand our capacity to support individuals with mental health challenges.”
According to recent counts, there have been 9,450 homeless people in Alameda County, down 3% from 2022. It is estimated that over two-thirds of the county's homeless were unsheltered.
In July, Newsom called on state and native officials to step up raids on homeless encampments. Some homeless activists expressed concern that the move may lead law enforcement to forgo providing protected housing alternatives to homeless Californians, who make up nearly 30% of the nation's homeless population.
AC Health also plans to make use of the funds by early December to implement the state-mandated Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court program. The program allows courts to position individuals with serious mental illness into treatment plans – including homeless people who find themselves too ailing to voluntarily seek treatment.
CARE Court was criticized by some civil rights groups who feared this system would deprive patients of their very own ability to make decisions about treatment.
“This funding will help ACBHD build a bridge to housing for CARE Court participants who are homeless and struggling with serious mental illness, substance abuse and trauma,” said James Wagner, ACBHD’s associate director of clinical operations, in a press release.
Russell added: “With these services, we aim to get homeless people off the streets and provide them with safe, dignified accommodation. We aim to provide rapid access to housing during critical transition periods and strengthen the capacity of formal and informal support systems.”
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