San Diego City Wire

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved the acceptance of a $12.4 million grant from the state and allocated an additional $8 million to enhance mental health services in the region. This funding will be utilized to establish 16 recuperative beds and renovate a building in National City, transforming it into a new County Substance Use Residential and Treatment Services facility. Additionally, 33 more recuperative care beds will be added at other treatment centers.

The 16 recuperative beds are designed to offer short-term housing for adults undergoing substance use treatment, aiding their recovery post-discharge from acute care settings. These facilities provide constant supervision and care, assisting patients as they transition back into the community.

Dr. Luke Bergmann, director of County Behavioral Health Services, emphasized the importance of these services: “Recuperative care is a key service within our behavioral health continuum. Patients with behavioral health conditions are five times more likely to have physical health challenges and are at higher risk of homelessness than those without. Recuperative care enables patients with behavioral health and other challenges to be safely discharged from hospital settings and put on a path towards recovery.”

The expansion is expected to benefit individuals experiencing homelessness by offering them support as they move from crisis situations into stable, long-term housing solutions.

The additional 33 recuperative care beds will expand access to mental health services through a community-based care model. This initiative is part of the county's broader effort to enhance short-term community-based care services, which includes six Crisis Stabilization Units with another under construction.

For further information about behavioral health services or Crisis Stabilization Units, residents can visit the respective webpages provided by the county.