Gavin Newsom wants to get more people into California’s CARE Court

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a bill to expand and streamline California’s process to get people who are mentally ill and homeless into mental health treatment and housing.

CARE Court, which was implemented in counties beginning in the fall of 2023, has fallen short of expectations. When it was initially announced, Newsom’s administration estimated 7,000-12,000 people would qualify for the program.

A recent CalMatters analysis found that, as of July, only 528 people had enrolled in treatment agreements or plans. The program relies on people agreeing to voluntary treatment, although if they don’t agree, they can eventually be ordered by a judge to follow a plan.

The changes, part of Senate Bill 27, would make it easier for criminal courts to refer someone to the CARE program and expand the criteria of the program from only people with a diagnosed schizophrenia spectrum disorder to also including people with bipolar disorder.

“SB 27 provides a balanced and compassionate path forward — far preferable to the extremes we’ve seen elsewhere, whether it’s sweeping executive orders on civil commitments or doing nothing at all and allowing people to die on our streets,” said state Sen. Thomas Umberg, D-Santa Ana, who co-authored the initial CARE Court law in 2022.

The state’s Big City Mayors Coalition, which includes Sacramento, was in favor of the bill, especially the ability of courts to recommend someone for CARE Court immediately instead of having to rule out that they would be eligible for mental health diversion court first.

In some counties, CARE Court may offer more services than mental health diversion court, including housing support.

The County Behavioral Health Directors Association filed opposition to the bill, stating that while it was “proud of the work (they) have done to successfully implement CARE Court thus far,” it was concerned about the expansion of the criteria. It pointed to the importance of having housing options on hand for people ready to engage in services.

“If housing is not on hand, we can miss a crucial window of opportunity in working with clients for whom housing is an urgent need.”

This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM.