Hey Neighbor,

Lack of housing is a challenge for all Californians, especially our most vulnerable neighbors.

We know that you’re saddened, overwhelmed, and frustrated by homelessness in California. We are, too. But we refuse to lose hope.

We’re social workers, therapists, and doctors dedicated to helping our most vulnerable unhoused neighbors get off the streets.

If they’re out here, so are we.

Sincerely,

Your California Behavioral
Health Departments

Bringing care
to our communities.

Finding housing for
our neighbors.

Compassionate
mental health care
is our mission.

OUR COMMUNITY,
OUR NEIGHBORS,
OUR MISSION.

OUR MISSION

We are social workers, therapists, doctors, nurses, peers, and community members passionate about helping others in need. We’re dedicated to doing whatever it takes, as long as it takes, because we see the positive impact our care can have on person’s life, forever.

We know our work is never done, and yet we refuse to lose hope.

Los Angeles

CONNECTION

We bring our care to our communities and reach out with compassion. Our relationship-based approach to care prioritizes building connections through daily interactions in order to establish trust and foster hope.

STABILITY

We connect people to the safe housing and mental health treatment they need to find stable ground. We help ensure people’s unique needs are met as they journey back to health and independence. 


WELLNESS

We support people as they work towards their goals and enable a more meaningful life. We help them gain the tools and capabilities necessary to re-enter society with confidence and control.

This looks like–

Crisis Response

Emergency Housing

Medication

Showers & Personal Hygiene

Meals & Grocery

Transitional Housing

Psychiatric Services

Landlord Mediation

Credit Repair

Substance Abuse Services

Employment

Permanent Housing

Educational Programs

Financial Services

Psychiatric Therapy

WHO WE ARE


Millie,
Social Worker, LA County


Chance,
Psychiatrist, LA County


Lavit,
Social Worker, LA County


Josh,
Housing Coordinator, Sonoma County


Amanda,
Social Services Worker, Sonoma County


Steven,
Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor, Sonoma County


Dallas,
Case Manager, Sonoma County


Alejandra,
Senior Client Support Specialist, Sonoma County


Elizabeth,
Housing Resource Specialist, Heartland (Sacramento County)


Katherine,
Clinical Program Manager, Heartland (Sacramento County)


Amy,
Senior Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, Sacramento County

OUR
NEIGHBORS

Today, hundreds of thousands Californians are unhoused. That’s hundreds of thousands sisters, best friends, fathers, daughters, and cousins, many of whom are suffering from moderate to severe mental illness.

 

#OurNeighbors

Kentucky's Story

#OurNeighbors

Kendra's Story

#OurNeighbors

Kontrena's Story

#OurNeighbors

Trinity's Story

#OurNeighbors

Breck's Story
#OurNeighbors
 
Tobin's Story

OUR
COMMUNITIES

We provide each continuum of care in every county. No matter the street corner or clinic, we lead with personalized, dignified care that respects a individual’s civil liberties, autonomy, and unique needs.


Our comprehensive approach to mental health care extends to every aspect of an individual’s journey, from healing to housing.

Our Communities

A public service of CaLMHSA on behalf of the County Behavioral Health Departments of California

©2024, CalMHSA

info@calmhsa.org

Meet Millie—a social worker in LA County who is dedicated to helping people suffering from mental illness get the care they need.

Meet Dr. Chancelor Cruz, a psychiatrist who works for LA County at Hollywood 2.0. Every day he and his team criss-cross the streets of Hollywood to bring mental health care to the unhoused. Dr. Cruz is passionate about helping people regain stability through therapy and medication, but he also wants to see people experience joy.

“Our end goal is to help people live a meaningful life, whatever that may mean to the individual.”

Meet Lavit—a social worker for LA County with an unwavering commitment to changing the lives of the unhoused for the better.

After years working in the streets of Skid Row, these days you’ll find her on the sidewalks of Hollywood, sitting crosslegged with unhoused neighbors, bringing people food and water, driving them to doctor’s appointments, and finding them safe housing.

“This work is complicated, nuanced, dirty, and hard. But we’re out here, helping people, every day, and doing the best we can. You can’t love the schizophrenia out of someone. But you can provide them with the care they need.”

“I love giving back to my community and providing housing resources for the unhoused in Sonoma County.”

Meet Josh, a housing coordinator in Sonoma County who is dedicated to finding shelter, beds and permanent housing for unhoused neighbors through the county’s Home First Coordinated Entry, Telecare and No Place Like Home programs.

Meet Amanda, a social service worker at Sonoma County’s Whole Person Care program. She has assisted families in crisis, many of whom were newly unhoused due to domestic violence, loss of a job or other life upheaval. She’s passionate about linking folks to community resources that ease times of crisis.

“I came to this job because I love helping those who are unhoused, who have been through trauma, need resources, and just someone to look them in the eyes and treat them like a human being.”

Meet Steven, an Alcohol and Other Drug Services counselor in Sonoma County. Being unhoused can exacerbate substance use and overdose deaths, so the need for Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) counselors is paramount. As an AODS counselor, Steve is deeply connected to the unhoused clients he works with.

“I have had direct experience with being unhoused and substance use disorder personally. Professionally, I have always been passionate about helping others.”

Meet Dallas, a case manager in Sonoma County whose unwavering commitment to our unhoused neighbors brings them stability on their paths to wellness and recovery. Most days you’ll find him navigating housing options so they can remain housed.

“I enjoy the complex puzzle of getting people housed who have multiple factors working against them. I thoroughly enjoy seeing them get a chance to call a place home and feel safe in that home.”

Meet Alejandra, a Senior Client Support Specialist in Sonoma County. From evaluating unhoused neighbors for treatments to intervening in crises and identifying other resources to help them remain stable – like food, clothing and financial support–Alejandra finds reward in every client she serves.

“A thank you for the support, a hug or just a simple smile makes my heart feel happy. I’m proud to help individuals and their families and that I can also serve to strengthen the entire community.”

Meet Elizabeth, a housing resource specialist who works with Sacramento County, who helps and advocates for families who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused. She understands what it means for them to have their basic needs met, like food, consistency and a roof over their heads.

“Seeing families go from a tent to having their own unit for the first time ever…watching a family go from homelessness to a hotel to a shelter and eventually a home…and seeing the kids have stability in their life. It is really rewarding.”

Meet Katherine, a clinical program manager who works with Sacramento County. From helping people going through evictions to finding permanent supportive housing and on-site mental health services, Katherine finds reward in every client she works with.

“Even though it is very challenging at times and requires an extreme amount of patience, it also gives you a perspective you may not have had. And when you hear the stories of what people have gone through in life, you understand how they got to where they’ve gotten to.”

Meet Amy, a senior behavioral health peer support specialist in Sacramento County. Most days you’ll find her getting out to meet people where they are – whether on the side of the road, at an encampment ,or beside a building. She links unhoused neighbors to services and helps them remember that someone cares about their well-being.

“For me it’s very personal, because when I was homeless, I didn’t know what resources were out there. It feels really good to be that tangible resource for people. I’ve seen the work change lives.”

Kentucky was living on the street for six years, in a barely inhabitable crack between two buildings. After meeting Nancy, a social worker with Hollywood 2.0, Kentucky found housing, and began working on securing aide that can support his transition into permanent housing.

Kendra is living in transitional housing after years on the streets of Hollywood. She loves the safety and security afforded by having a room of her own, as well as the opportunity to have a desk piled high with art supplies. She enjoys making colorful collages to decorate her space.

Kontrena lived on the streets of Monterey for over three years, and things had become unbearable. She had lost all hope and feared that she would die in the abandoned building where she was hiding, until a friendly voice called out her name — specifically, her nickname.

It was a County Behavioral Health Department worker who had been looking for Kontrena. This moment of recognition and human connection was the turning point that helped her begin her journey to healing.

Today, she’s the Peer Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator at Interim, Inc., where she uses her own experience to help others find their way.

A relapse in Trinity’s mental health led to involvement in the criminal justice system and becoming unhoused. Sonoma County’s Whole Person Care team helped her secure mental health treatment, medication support and a plan for housing. Now, she’s in temporary supportive housing, awaiting long-term housing, and she’s pursuing a degree in social work.

After working with Josh, a Sonoma County Behavioral Health housing coordinator, Breck found a path beyond living on the street and in shelters. Now in his own apartment, he has also regained visitation rights with his children.

With housing coordination and care from county behavioral health, Tobin was able to break a cycle of landing in emergency rooms, crisis stabilization units and conservatorship. He now is successfully living in an apartment.