CALIFORNIA AWARDS COUNTIES NEARLY $133 MILLION TO RAPIDLY HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $132.5 million to 10 county behavioral health agencies under the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program. This funding enables counties to provide temporary, safe housing and essential support for people transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Bridge housing is a crucial component of addressing the urgent needs of Californians experiencing homelessness who have serious mental health or substance use disorder treatment needs.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: “California is deeply committed to addressing the behavioral health and housing needs of our most vulnerable neighbors," said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “Building upon the successes of the first round of funding, this new investment will help counties expand their efforts and provide critical support to people struggling with mental health challenges and substance use disorders."

“These awards are a testament to California's dedication to improving the lives of people with behavioral health challenges facing homelessness," said Marlies Perez, Chief of DHCS' Community Services Division. “This second round of funding allows us to build on the progress we've made and grow our support for people in need."
 
“The BHBH Program has provided Nevada County with the opportunity to expand interim housing for our most vulnerable populations,“ said Phebe Bell, Behavioral Health Director for Nevada County. “We look forward to expanding our program to add additional housing and housing supports to help the immediate needs of homeless people experiencing a behavioral health condition."
 
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: DHCS is partnering with county behavioral health agencies to offer the BHBH Program. County behavioral health agencies that had a signed contract for the first round of BHBH Program funding on or before April 10, 2024, were eligible to apply for an additional round of funding to implement bridge housing services for Californians experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions. With this funding, counties will expand rental assistance programs, establish housing to address the needs of people exiting incarceration, expand interim housing, and build on other program components, such as landlord engagement.
 
ABOUT THE BHBH PROGRAM: Today's awards to counties build upon the more than $900 million already awarded to counties and tribal entities in 2022. The Request for Applications was released in January 2024, offering two tracks: either operational funding or operational and infrastructure funding. These awards will significantly enhance local efforts to provide immediate housing and support for individuals with serious behavioral health conditions by bolstering the development of tiny homes, interim housing, rental assistance programs, and other housing models, which will include access to behavioral health and housing navigation services to connect BHBH Program participants to long-term housing. To see a list of the counties awarded, visit the BHBH Program website.

BIGGER PICTURE: The BHBH Program builds upon the California Health & Human Services Agency's Guiding Principles and Strategic Priorities and contributes to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness' Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California. The BHBH Program is being implemented in alignment with the Community, Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which prioritizes BHBH Program resources for CARE participants. This initiative aligns with Governor Gavin Newsom's broader efforts to address mental health, opioid, and homelessness crises in the state.

For more information, please visit the BHBH Program website.​