Newsom to release $3.3 billion for California mental health housing in 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the initial $3.3 billion in bonds approved by voters in March to build housing and treatment beds and rehabilitate people with mental illness will be delivered to counties months ahead of schedule. announced.

And he reiterated that the county needs to get started.

“You’re either part of the problem or you’re not. Times have changed,” he said at a news conference in front of the Cordilleras Mental Health Center in Redwood City.

“Let’s get out of the way. Let’s do the right thing. And let’s have the sense of urgency that Californians demand.”

The funding is scheduled to begin July 1 and represents more than half of the $6.4 billion in bonds pledged under Proposition 1, one of Newsom’s signature mental health initiatives. Proposition 1 also requires counties to spend more of their existing mental health funds on people experiencing chronic homelessness. Despite early expectations that it would sail, Proposition 1 barely made it through.

The announcement comes at a politically difficult time for Newsom. Last week, Newsom announced more than $30 billion in temporary and lasting cuts aimed at eliminating the state’s massive deficit.

Newsom noted Tuesday that his administration is pumping out money at a much faster pace than in past bonds, including a similar measure known as “No Place Like Home.” The process of distributing that $2 billion 2018 housing bond money took years and resulted in far less housing than voters promised.

Proposition 1 is combined with several other major mental health initiatives, including conservatorship reform and CARE Court.

The announcement was partly a victory lap for Newsom and partly a sign of frustration urging the county to act more quickly.

“It’s time to do your job. It’s time to get things done. You asked for these reforms. We delivered them. Now it’s time to deliver,” he said. said.

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