Governor Announces New Program for Homeless Response
Also on Thursday, Governor Newsom announced a new plan to help homeless residents who are struggling with untreated mental illness and substance abuse by compelling them to participate in up to 24 months of court-ordered treatment. Called the CARE Court, or Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment, the program is intended to connect each person with a care plan and a care team that can provide clinically prescribed individualized treatment, supportive services, stabilizing medication, and a housing plan.
Family members, first responders, mental health service providers and others will be able to refer people to county community care teams in each of the State’s 58 counties. Hospitalization and conservatorship could still be an option should the services offered not work, though the details of how this would be implemented has not yet been determined.
The proposal still needs to go through a process for approval and will require significant funding and the Legislature’s approval. The Governor has indicated that he will move this plan through the budget process, as opposed to the legislative process, which can require more procedures and time.