The County of Santa Cruz has received an $8 million grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 47 Grant Program to enhance mental health, substance use disorder and diversion services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
Under the grant, County agencies will collaborate on the RENEWPath (Reentry, Engagement, New beginnings, Empowerment, Wellness) program, offering housing and treatment for those with substance use disorder or both substance use and mental health issues through “Recovery Residences,” sober living environments paired with treatment services including counseling, comprehensive care coordination and peer support.
The target population includes individuals with low-level offenses who have a history of being unhoused and are not covered by other funding sources.
The Board of Supervisors authorized the grant in June, and it was formally awarded during the BSCC’s October meeting. The funding is derived from savings through Prop 47, which helped reduce California’s prison population and redirected savings to substance use treatment and other programs intended to address the underlying causes of crime.
Multiple County departments collaborated on the application, including the Health Services Agency, Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Human Services Department, Sheriff-Coroner and County Administrative Office. In addition, the County expects to contract with select community-based organizations to provide direct residential recovery services.
The County of Santa Cruz has been successful in identifying and applying for multiple rounds of Prop 47 funding, utilizing funding for the Neighborhood Court program, court and jail-based mental health and substance use disorder assessment, reentry navigation and peer navigator support, expanded substance use disorder treatment, bridge housing support, staff and community training, early intervention and system diversion, and comprehensive data collection and program evaluation.
