Addressing homelessness: $8 million state grant to fund new Berkeley diversion program

"A new diversion program meant to help unhoused residents struggling with substance and mental health disorders is coming to Berkeley thanks to an $8 million state grant. The three-year grant will help the city establish its CareBridge Program, a treatment initiative that will provide up to 80 participants a year with six months of transitional housing and wraparound services as an alternative to incarceration."

"Funding for the grant comes from Proposition 47, a law approved by voters in 2014 that reduced some low-level drug and theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and funneled savings from prison costs to a program for mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation. Berkeley officials plan to spend about $6.3 million of the $8 million award on transitional housing, case management, and peer navigation services. The rest of the money will go toward meals, program evaluation, data infrastructure, indirect costs, project management, and grant administration."

The three-year, $8 million grant will establish the CareBridge Program to provide up to 80 participants per year with six months of transitional housing and wraparound services as an alternative to incarceration. The city plans to allocate about $6.3 million to transitional housing, case management, and peer navigation, with remaining funds for meals, program evaluation, data infrastructure, indirect costs, project management, and grant administration. No city matching funds are required. The grant is funded by Proposition 47 savings. Program continuation depends on ongoing Proposition 47 grant funding; city staff will seek alternatives or phase out the program if state funding is cancelled.

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