Newsom Announces First Round Of Prop. 1 Funding

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at a press conference on Tuesday in San Mateo County that $3.3 billion from the around $6.4 billion Proposition 1 bond measure will be available starting July.

Cities, counties and tribal entities can apply for the funding for mental health treatment sites — they can be outpatient, inpatient or residential.

Newsom also announced the creation of a new website: www.mentalhealth.ca.gov. The public can use the website to access mental health services available in the state and keep track of the state’s promised mental health “transformation.”

According to the Governor’s office, a study by the RAND Corporation and another one by the Department of Health Care Services shows a gap in “inpatient treatment beds and outpatient treatment centers” in the state.

“Cutting tape and moving faster to get bond funding out means key behavioral health infrastructure sites can be built faster,” the Governor’s office said. “That means more beds and more treatment slots for Californians who need them to get the support and care they need to get healthy.”

What is Prop. 1?

In March, just over 50% of voters across California approved the Prop. 1 ballot measure. Under the measure, the millionaires tax paid towards mental health services will be allocated towards housing for people with mental illness. The measure also resulted in the approval of a bond of around $6.4 billion which will go towards adding beds in psychiatric facilities and supportive housing.

Because voters approved the prop measure, counties in California have to shift their mental health care services and drug or alcohol services towards housing.