Placer County applies for up to $16 million in BHCIP funds to expand Casa DeWitt transitional housing

Placer County supervisors on Oct. 14 authorized the county to apply for a Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) grant — sometimes called BHCIP Round 2 — seeking up to $16 million to renovate a county-owned building at the Placer County government center and expand the transitional housing program Casa DeWitt.

Application and funding: The board adopted a resolution authorizing Health and Human Services to submit a grant application to the California Department of Health Care Services for not-to-exceed funding of roughly $16 million. The application requires a 10% county match; the county plans to satisfy most of the match via in-kind land valuation plus an estimated $200,000—20 $300,000 in opioid settlement funds if awarded. If the county is awarded the grant, staff said they will return to the board with a detailed budget amendment and operating plan.

Program details: Casa DeWitt provides transitional housing and services for people leaving residential treatment, inpatient settings or custody, and for unsheltered residents who need time and supports to get stable. The county's plan would relocate the program into a renovated county building adjacent to existing HHS services, increasing capacity from 18 beds to approximately 36. Case management and recovery services would be contracted to a community-based organization selected via competitive RFP when renovations are complete. Program stays range from an initial 90 days to up to 24 months for clients needing extended support.

Performance: County Health and Human Services said Casa DeWitt has achieved strong housing outcomes in its current location: more than 80% of participants were placed into long-term housing, and 95% of those remained housed after six months.

Board action and context: The board approved three items: (1) adopt the resolution to apply for BHCIP Round 2 funds and authorize HHS to sign grant documents, (2) authorize letters of support to accompany the application, and (3) find that the application and proposed work are exempt from CEQA under the cited guidelines. Supervisors noted that this is a competitive, "unmet needs" round of BHCIP that prioritizes jurisdictions or facility types that have not previously received BHCIP funds, and staff acknowledged the county may face constraints in competitiveness but called the application worth pursuing.

Next steps: If Placer County receives an award, staff said operations will rely on Medi-Cal billable services and Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds with additional grant funding sought for ongoing operations; a future RFP will select a nonprofit operator.