L.A. Sheriff Baca: “Let’s Make Sure The Prop 63 Funding Goes Toward Homeless Services”

Late this afternoon, Los Angeles County Sheriff Baca hosted a meeting in downtown Los Angeles to ensure that the Mental Health Services Act funding will go toward homeless services. This is the funding that taxed wealthy people in order to pay for new mental health services. Los Angeles County will receive $280 million in the next three years.

The Sheriff’s meeting was in the basement of the Downtown Mental Health Center in Central City East. Among the invited guests were the leaders of the state and county Mental Health Departments, law enforcement, numerous representatives of public officials, many county workers, several service providers, business leaders, Assemblyman Mark Ridley Thomas, and Phil Mangano, the director of the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness.

With just a few days notice, the Sheriff was able to draw a significant group of stake holders.

After much discussion, the Sheriff proposed the following for funding:

- A regional oversight commission on mental illness and homelessness
- Coordinated technology and information system
- Mental Health Court initiative
- Law enforcement training for dealing with Mentally Ill
- Stabilization centers
- Mobile mental health clinic

With law enforcement playing a key role in interacting with the homeless on the streets, it is encouraging to have the chief law enforcement officer of the county try to provide humane solutions to homelessness.