By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The State of California has allotted $3.3 billion in funding to build inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment centers to address the state’s mental health and homelessness crisis.

The funds are part of a $6.4 billion bond that Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized after California voters approved Proposition 1 in March this year.

Last week, Newsom touted the mental health measure at a new facility in San Mateo County, highlighting the importance of building facilities to help transform health care.

According to Newsom’s office, Proposition 1 is an important part of the state’s strategy to tackle the growing issue of homelessness. The measure also intends to encourage people dealing with severe mental illness and substance disorders to seek treatment.

Newsom said that his administration is working to approve plans in the next few months to build more housing this summer. The governor urged counties to enroll in the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court program that offers mental health patients court-ordered support and care for up to 24 months.

The program is a $14 billion multi-year investment that aims to provide 55,000 housing units statewide. The state has planned to invest an additional $10 billion in community behavioral health services. Counties can sign up for the CARE Court program, early applications are available to eligible individuals. The program is currently available in nine counties: Glenn, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco (City and County), San Mateo, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.

The state will provide an additional $1 billion to support more construction projects and programs next year.

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