Ballot Measure 2

[MikeH]

Statewide ballot measure 2. What do you think about this? I am not clear. What concerns me is it says the State will issue $2B in bonds and use County Mental Health Funds to repay these bonds. So it is about housing for persons with mental illness, but I am wondering if it will result in a cut to County Mental Health budgets? It sounds to me like funding for housing at the expense of the regular mental health services budget.

2
AUTHORIZES BONDS TO FUND EXISTING
HOUSING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. LEGISLATIVE
STATUTE. Amends Mental Health Services


Vote Yes or No


Act to fund No Place Like Home Program, which finances
housing for individuals with mental illness. Ratifies existing
law establishing the No Place Like Home Program. Fiscal
Impact: Allows the state to use up to $140 million per year of
county mental health funds to repay up to $2 billion in bonds.
These bonds would fund housing for those with mental illness
who are homeless.

[MikeH]

This is endorsed by all the Affordable Housing people by the way. They say it gives the local County (Supervisors) the discretion to use some of the mental health funding for housing.

Background Information
On July 1, 2016, Governor Brown signed landmark legislation enacting the No Place Like Home program to dedicate up to $2 billion in bond proceeds to invest in the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, or who are at risk of chronic homelessness. The bonds are repaid by funding from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

Key features of the program include:

1. Counties will be eligible applicants (either solely or with a housing development sponsor).
2. Funding for permanent supportive housing must utilize low barrier tenant selection practices that prioritize vulnerable populations and offer flexible, voluntary, and individualized supportive services.
3. Counties must commit to provide mental health services and help coordinate access to other community-based supportive services.

Purpose
To acquire, design, construct, rehabilitate, or preserve permanent supportive housing for persons who are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness or who are at risk of chronic homelessness, and who are in need of mental health services.


Population to be Served
Adults with serious mental illness, or children with severe emotional disorders and their families and persons who require or are at risk of requiring acute psychiatric inpatient care, residential treatment, or outpatient crisis intervention because of a mental disorder with symptoms of psychosis, suicidality or violence and who are homeless, chronically homeless, or at risk of chronic homelessness.

At risk of chronic homelessness includes persons who are at high risk of long-term or intermittent homelessness, including persons with mental illness exiting institutionalized settings with a history of homelessness prior to institutionalization, and transition age youth experiencing homelessness or with significant barriers to housing stability.

https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/nplh.shtml#background
(https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/nplh.shtml#background)
More info on Ballotpedia here (https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_2,_Use_Millionaire%27s_Tax_Revenue_for_Homelessness_Prevention_Housing_Bonds_Measure_(2018))