Lurie Administration Has Secured 27.6 Million in State Funding to Significantly Expand Behavioral Health Care Services

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a substantial plan to enhance behavioral health care services in San Francisco with the help of $27. 6 million in state funding. The funding will support the addition of 73 new treatment beds, comprising 57 locked subacute beds for individuals under conservatorship and 16 dual diagnosis beds for those facing substance use and behavioral health challenges. This initiative aligns with Lurie's "Breaking the Cycle" plan, designed to transform the city's response to mental health and homelessness crises. Department of Public Health Director Daniel Tsai highlighted the necessity of having adequate care levels to tackle the behavioral health crisis effectively.

The funding is part of a larger $3. 3 billion statewide initiative authorized under Proposition 1, which aims to boost mental health treatment capacity across California. Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman noted that this represents a critical step toward addressing the long-standing shortage of mental health beds in the state. Local officials are optimistic that the funding will enable the city to meet the needs of a vulnerable population. The expansion of treatment options is seen as essential for improving public health and safety.