California ‘takes urgent steps’ to close homeless camps
In June, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling that banned punishment for people sleeping outdoors. Now California can take action to clean up homeless encampments.
As California continues to grapple with the homelessness crisis, San Joaquin County received nearly $30 million in federal funding to provide housing for the valley’s needy residents.
Late last month, the county received $15 million from the California Department of Public Health’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing grant program. The money follows $14.3 million awarded to county health services for transitional housing under the same program last year.
The Bridge Housing program, which took effect in 2022, provides nearly $1 billion in federal funding to mental health hospitals and tribal entities to operate housing for people experiencing homelessness and severe mental health issues.
“We couldn’t be prouder of (Behavioral Health Services’) ongoing efforts to pursue funding opportunities that creatively address this pervasive situation,” said Miguel Villapudua, chairman of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
In San Joaquin County, the new $15 million grant will be used to add approximately 67 beds of care for people with mental illness who may also have substance use disorders and are at risk of or already homeless.
The county has not yet acquired land for the housing project and is still seeking additional funding to complete the work. The plan calls for renovating an existing building, according to Genevieve Valentine, director of the county’s Behavioral Health Services. The county does not yet have a projected date for completion of the project, but the Bridge Housing grant must be used by 2027.
The county, in partnership with the Central Valley Low Income Housing Corporation and the county’s Whole Person Care team, will use the remainder of the grant funds to expand its services to an additional 300 people per year.
Floor plan of the apartment in Stockton: City launches third housing project for mentally ill people
The county has already begun distributing last year’s $14.3 million Bridge Housing grant, which went toward the purchase and renovation of the Satellite Apartments, a 30-unit complex.
The project, a partnership between the county’s housing authority and behavioral health agencies, is designed to create permanent assisted living opportunities for people placed in treatment through the county’s upcoming CARE Courts program. Renovations will add an additional 24 housing units to the site, and completion is scheduled for 18 to 24 months.
San Joaquin County, like much of the rest of the state, will open its new mental health justice department in December to help end homelessness.
Time counting: Homelessness in San Joaquin County has doubled
The remainder of the $14.3 million Bridge Housing grant will be used for homeless support and inclusion, rental assistance, housing, and assistance with transportation/laundry and other essential needs.
The county’s Behavioral Health and Housing Authority have collaborated on projects to reduce homelessness in recent years, including the 49-unit Victory Gardens facility for homeless veterans, the 37-unit Sonora Square facility for homeless people with mental health issues and the upcoming 50-bed Park Center Apartments, which began construction earlier this year.
Marijke Rowland is the senior health equity reporter for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborationa non-profit newsroom that The Mercedes Focusin collaboration with the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF).