A California program to help people with severe mental illness has reportedly just helped 22 people since it started in 2022, despite costing $236 million to operate.
However, Newsom’s office refuted the report, taking to social media to claim that hundreds of people have been helped.
The backstory: Newsom launched CARE Court in 2022 to help the severe mentally ill receive treatment ordered by a judge.
An analysis from the Assembly at the time said up to 50,000 people might be eligible.
The big picture: The Daily Mail reported that California has spent $236 million on CARE Court since March 2022 only to help 22 people with court-ordered treatment.
There were around 3,000 petitions filed across the state. While 706 of them were approved, 684 of those were voluntary agreements that were never the intended point of the program, according to the report.
Newsom’s response: Newsom’s press office posted on X saying the number really is in the 600s.
“CARE Court has helped THOUSANDS of Californians into care to recover – not 22,” the post reads. “Even under the most NARROW definition (court-ordered treatment plans, which is one of many treatment outcomes), the number is 600+ and growing.
By the numbers: With 22 people served through the program – per the Daily Mail’s report – California spent $10.7 million per person.
If the 684 number is taken into account – as Newsom’s office feels – the per-person spending comes to $345,000.
Zoom out: The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated that California has spent $37 billion on homelessness since 2019, when Newsom took office.