STOCKTON — San Joaquin County has been awarded a $15 million grant to address serious mental health needs among the homeless.

Getting help for the homeless suffering from mental health concerns is viewed as essential to getting them off the street.

The California Department of Health Care Services awarded the county funding for both the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program and San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services (BHS).

"BHS has been compassionately addressing the intersection of homelessness and serious mental illness (SMI) for years, under very trying circumstances, and we could not be more proud of their continued efforts to pursue funding opportunities that creatively combat this pervasive situation,” said Miguel Villapudua, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

In partnership with Central Valley Low Income Housing Corporation and the County’s Whole Person Care team, grant funding will enable BHS to expand service to an estimated 300 unduplicated individuals annually.

The funding will also be used to add roughly 67 beds to the continuum of care for the exclusive use of individuals with a SMI, who may also have a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.

“We are energized to build on our preexisting infrastructure and partnerships to enhance BHBH programming into the County,” said Genevieve Valentine, Director of San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services.

“This funding will enable the County to expand temporary, safe housing and essential support for people transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing and we are humbled by the State’s commitment to our County. We also appreciate our Board’s support of our efforts to find solutions that make being homeless rare, brief, and non-reoccurring.”

The grant will run through June 2027.