California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X that the state’s CARE Act is expanding treatment and housing for people with serious mental illness and addiction while exceeding Proposition 1 goals, citing more than 6,900 new permanent shelters and beds and 27,000 outpatient slots. In the attached video, Newsom describes the figures as the fastest distribution of funds in state history and calls the progress “a big deal.” Online users reacted with widespread skepticism, questioning the accuracy of the claims and pointing to past spending levels alongside persistent homelessness and limited numbers of court-ordered treatment plans.
In the attached video, Newsom speaks in front of an American flag and states, “The fastest distribution of funds in the history of the state of California.” He continues, “We gave all the awards, and we will exceed the stretch goals, the audacious goals of over 6,900 new, permanent units of behavioral health and 27,000+ outpatient slots.” He adds, “They locked it in already. This is a big deal.”
The post says the CARE Act is getting more treatment and housing to people with serious mental illness and addiction. It also claims the state is beating its Proposition 1 targets on permanent shelters, beds, and outpatient slots. Around the same time, state officials said CARE Act pathways have connected nearly 12,000 people to services since it went statewide in late 2024. About 1,800 of them have formal CARE agreements or plans.
State numbers also showed the share of participants in housing rose from 53 percent to 71 percent. Nearly half of those who started out unhoused later got into shelter or housing. Some independent reports have noted that the bigger “reached” numbers include petitions and people sent to other services outside formal CARE plans. Court-ordered plans are still relatively few, and many of the Proposition 1 beds have been awarded but not built yet.
How People Are Reacting to Newsom’s CARE Act Update
Some viewers saw it as a step forward. One wrote, “Actually putting forth SOLUTIONS!! Bravo!!” Another said, “Good to see some progress after all this time.”
Others questioned the numbers and what has actually been delivered. One commenter wrote, “Propaganda as always. Prop 1’s 6,900 beds are mostly awarded, not built.”
Another replied, “Billions of taxpayer dollars have disappeared, and only 22 people have been taken off the streets and put into treatment.”
A third group focused on overall spending and street conditions. One user stated, “And yet you’ve spent over $24 billion to END HOMELESSNESS, and it’s gotten WORSE.”
Another added, “Talk is cheap, as it always has been for CA democrats.”
A further commenter wrote, “Faker, Liar. Anything to sound good while promoting yourself and still not doing anything good for our communities.”
The discussion continues as viewers weigh the state’s reported progress on treatment and housing against ongoing questions about costs and results. The post remains part of the broader conversation about California’s approach to mental health and homelessness.
