San Joaquin County officials outlined several homelessness and behavioral health efforts during the Oct. 16 State of the County presentation, including new supportive housing openings, expanded shelter services and a planned behavioral health campus.

"Using a $137,000,000 state grant matched by county funding and community support, we are building the SJB Well campus," said Paul Canepa, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. Canepa described the campus as a comprehensive behavioral health treatment facility located across from the county hospital and the VA clinic and said it will be "the first of its kind in our region."

County officials reported immediate, ongoing services and outreach results: the county said it opened 52 new supportive housing units, approved additional affordable housing projects, and expanded shelter services. Probation's SJ Cares outreach team has been active, with Canepa reporting they engaged with more than 400 unhoused individuals and delivered over 750 services last year.

Canepa also referenced development of a "safe camping" project described as Camp Canepa and cited adoption of a communications platform to link unsheltered people with available services in real time. Officials emphasized combined shelter, outreach and treatment as part of a continuum intended to provide both crisis response and long-term care.

Ending: County leaders presented the SJB Well campus and the mix of housing, shelter and outreach programs as part of a broader strategy to provide treatment and housing options, while acknowledging work remains to scale services to need.