San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Thursday the city will implement over 400 new treatment beds for those experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues.
The mayor and the San Francisco Department of Public Health are working together on this expansion plan, the city said in a release. Officials said the goal is to provide more options for people needing appropriate services which match their situation.
This year, San Francisco will open 140 new beds. In all, the planned expansion represents a 20% increase in capacity, according to officials.
"This is an unprecedented expansion of our system of care and treatment for people with mental health and substance use disorders," Mayor Breed said in a release.
The city said its street outreach teams will be able direct residents they interact with to these treatment beds.
The projects include the 20-bed SOMA RISE Center that will open this fall, which will provide a space for users of methamphetamine and other substances. The Department of Public Health is also negotiating for facilities that would include at least 73 beds for people with mental health issues who require daily assistance.
"Coming out of COVID, our biggest public health crisis is the thousands of people living on our streets with untreated mental health and substance use disorders," Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said. "Getting these sick people off the streets and into appropriate treatment beds will save lives and make San Francisco a safer and healthier place for all."
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