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Residents urge county to fund neighborhood-based, culturally specific mental-health supports
Summary
Residents and community organizers told the Unincorporated Services Committee that unincorporated Alameda County neighborhoods face long waits, limited bilingual staff and distrust of providers, and requested a $500,000 first‑year pilot for resident-led peer circles, provider roundtables and language access. Supervisors said staff will review the proposal and agendize it for the health committee.
Residents and advocates from the Eden area told Alameda County supervisors on Wednesday that gaps in bilingual and culturally specific mental-health services are leaving people without timely help and are driving community‑led responses.
The community presenter described months of resident surveys and interviews and urged the county to fund ‘‘neighborhood-based 3rd spaces’’ for healing and peer support, plus monthly provider roundtables and stronger language access. "Residents since 2024 have been facing barriers to relevant and bilingual affordable care that is within their neighborhood," the presenter said, urging more nonclinical spaces rooted in culture and peer support.
Marcia Lopez, who introduced the group's recommendations, outlined an implementation package that would create resident‑led peer circles, convene providers monthly, and hire a resident healing‑justice coordinator to train facilitators. Staff estimated program elements (coordination, stipends, programming, and evaluation) could total roughly $500,000 in a first year.
Supervisor Miley said the proposal raised important issues but must be evaluated by county behavioral-health staff and the Health Committee to determine what is possible within this fiscal year. "We'll take a look at it, but I know I can't make any commitments around this," Miley said, noting an ongoing funding transition tied to Prop 1 that could create shortfalls next year.
Supervisor Tam and County staff said there is interest in using existing trusted partners and contracts to expand services and that Measure W and other local funds might be options for partial support. Both supervisors directed staff to have behavioral-health analysts review the proposal and report back to the Health Committee so the department can advise on budget and implementation options.
The presenters requested that any task force or advisory body be open to residents across the unincorporated area, include youth representatives, and report quarterly on progress. Supervisors committed to routing the materials to the county behavioral-health department and scheduling the item for the Health Committee for more detailed staff analysis and public participation.
The committee did not vote on funding; supervisors asked staff to return with findings and options for committee consideration.
