When fully awarded,
funding from Proposition 1 bonds is estimated to create 6,800
residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for
behavioral health and will build on other major behavioral health
initiatives in California.
Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency: “Today
marks a critical milestone in our commitment to transforming
California’s behavioral health system. Through these awards, we are
investing in bold, community-driven solutions that expand access to
care, promote equity, and meet people where they are. These projects are
a reflection of our values and vision for a healthier, more
compassionate California.”
Michelle Baass, DHCS Director: “This is a
generational investment in California’s behavioral health future. We are
not just building facilities. We are building hope, dignity, and
pathways to healing for thousands of Californians. These investments
will significantly enhance our state’s capacity to provide timely,
effective care for individuals in their own communities.”
WHY THIS MATTERS: The Bond BHCIP Round 1 awards will help to create a
comprehensive behavioral health system, ensuring that individuals can
access the right care at the right time, whether it be for crisis
stabilization, inpatient care, or long-term treatment. As part of the
state’s goal to reduce mental health crises, increase the availability
of services, and support community-based solutions, these investments
are vital in ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of
behavioral health services.
Through BHCIP, DHCS has competitively awarded grants to construct,
acquire, and expand properties and invest in mobile crisis
infrastructure for behavioral health. Proposition 1, passed in March
2024, increases funding opportunities to expand BHCIP to serve even more
Californians with mental health and substance use disorders through
infrastructure development.
BIGGER PICTURE: California’s Mental Health for All initiative is
modernizing the behavioral health delivery system to
improve accountability, increase transparency, and expand the capacity
of behavioral health care facilities. BHCIP supports the creation,
renovation, and expansion of facilities that serve individuals with
mental health and substance use disorder needs, with a focus on crisis
care, residential treatment, and outpatient services. DHCS has already
awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP competitive grants.
There is a 7,000-plus behavioral health bed shortfall in California,
contributing to unmet needs among people experiencing homelessness who
have mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Bond BHCIP funding
is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700
outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build upon
other major behavioral health initiatives in California. This investment
will help address the behavioral health bed shortfall.
WHAT COMES NEXT: Today’s announcement represents the first of two Bond BHCIP
funding rounds. The second round, Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs, will
provide over $800 million in competitive funding awards for behavioral
health treatment facilities and is open to all entities. Interested
entities are encouraged to apply after the Round 2 Request for
Applications goes live as soon as later this month.
Additionally, the Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD) will oversee up to $2 billion in Proposition 1 funds to build
permanent supportive housing for veterans and others who are homeless or
at risk of homelessness and have mental health or substance use
disorder challenges.
LEARN MORE: For more information about Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready, please visit the
BHCIP website. Additional guidance on Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready and Round 2: Unmet Needs is available
here. Visit the
Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for updates and resources, including recordings of regular public listening sessions.
Today’s awardees can be found HERE.