SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing have been awarded a $32 million state grant to be received over the next four years to provide housing and services for San Franciscans who are experiencing homelessness and serious behavioral health conditions.
The Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) state grant intends to address the immediate and long-term housing needs of Californians experiencing homelessness who also have serious behavioral health conditions, including serious mental illness and substance use disorders, that prevent them from accessing help and moving out of homelessness. Participants in the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act program will be prioritized for bridge housing support.
“When people with substance use or mental health issues have housing or shelter, they are in a far better position to improve their health and stability,” said Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax. “With this grant funding, people will receive support to stabilize their living situation, in an environment that is much safer and more stable than the streets. The combination of stable living situations and behavioral health treatment leads to better health outcomes.”
SFDPH, along with Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) will collaborate to use BHBH funding to expand and develop bridge housing consisting of transitional and supportive living programs with a goal to connect individuals to long-term housing stability. In fiscal year 2023-24, the City will receive $6.2 million, to be followed by $8.4 million the next fiscal year. A total of $8.6 million will go to San Francisco in fiscal year 2025-26, and the amount will rise to $8.9 million in fiscal year 2026-27.
The grant will support multiple types of housing, such as mid- to short-term housing, emergency stabilization units, shelter beds, women’s transitional housing, and assisted living beds. The funding will also allow DPH to provide additional housing navigation and support services for housing stability, retention, and wellness.
In San Francisco, 5,000 people experiencing homelessness are receiving behavioral health care from DPH each year. SFDPH provides behavioral health care for more than 25,000 people annually through primary care. Another 15,000 people receive services each year in SFDPH specialized behavioral health programs.
“This funding will make it possible for SFDPH to better support San Franciscans with behavioral health needs with supportive and transitional living environments,” said Dr. Hillary Kunins, DPH Director of Behavioral Health and Mental Health SF. “We know these additional supports will help people to achieve greater stability and health.”
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