Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors today advanced a new behavioral health project to build 49 new bed recuperative care beds in the region, including 16 beds at a new unit at the former Volunteers of America location in National City. An estimated 1,000 San Diegans annually will be able to recover in these beds temporarily while receiving mental health or addiction treatment.

Today’s action is a follow up to Supervisor Lawson-Remer's successful proposal in January to earmark $8 million in America Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to expand critically needed recuperative care beds in the region. This will be combined with $12.4 million in grant funds secured from the state. The primary customer is people who are already experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless.  

“This new development will help reduce overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms, help people experiencing homelessness and build on our County’s continued commitment to deliver more mental health and addiction treatment services to San Diegans,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “With investments like this we are delivering local solutions that make healthcare, especially mental healthcare, affordable and accessible for everyone in San Diego County."

Editor Note: A preview of the new location and where some of the beds will be built out will be hosted by Supervisor Lawson-Remer in October 2024. More details to be announced in the near future.

Link to the policy passed today here.

Link to the announcement of the proposal passed in January here. 

Link to the original proposal introduced by Supervisor Lawson-Remer here.