ACTION ALERT: Concerned about homelessness? Step up TODAY to support CARE Court

Most Angelenos are confronted by the tragedy on our streets every day. The homelessness crisis is too visible, sprawling, and inhumane for us to look away. Business leaders cannot afford to shrink away from action on this issue. We're urging you to step up NOW because there's a smart solution in the Legislature that will get Californians with severe mental illness and substance use disorders the comprehensive care they need.

SB 1338 (Umberg) is likely up for a floor vote tomorrow.

The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court or "CARE Court" framework addresses root causes of California’s homelessness crisis by expanding compassionate mental health services, demanding government accountability, and creating a new court branch to fill gaps in the state’s behavioral health system. This assertive approach to addressing mental illness and its wide-ranging impacts is a sensible, community-based approach that protects people who have fallen through the cracks of existing systems.

This legislation will make our streets safer for all Californians.

• CARE Court connects a person struggling with untreated mental illness with a personalized “Care Plan” for up to 24 months.
• Each plan is managed by a team of specialists with ties to the community.
• It can include drug stabilization, medication, therapy, and a housing plan.
• CARE Court does not wait until someone is incarcerated or hospitalized to help.
• Family members, first responders, health care providers, and others can now refer people suffering from severe mental illness for these services.
• Participants are empowered with access to both a public defender and supporter.
• The program’s guiding goal is self-directed recovery.

We've made it easy for you to voice your support. Open the link below to send an advocacy message targeting key legislators with a single click.

If you have questions about this high-priority bill, please contact Denise Kniter, Policy Manager, at denise.kniter@bizfed.org.

Onward!


BizFed Founding CEO