California Narrowly Passes $12.7 Billion Bond on Homeless Housing, Treatment

California voters narrowly passed a $12.7 billion bond for building more mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities and homeless housing. With only 108,000 ballots left to count, the measure leads by 50.2% to 49.8%, or a 29,000 vote lead, suggesting a nearly guaranteed passage for Proposition 1. The measure goes hand in hand with other legislation the governor passed, SB 43, to change the state’s conservatorship laws. SB 43 expanded conservatorship — when the state appoints someone to oversee one’s care — to include people who are unable to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing, or shelter, due to either severe substance use disorder or serious mental health illnesses.