REP LIEU SECURES $2.5 MILLION FOR LOCAL PROJECTS IN SANTA MONICA IN APPROPRIATIONS BILL

July 5, 2022

Press Release

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) announced that the $2.5 million in federal funding he requested for two community projects in Santa Monica has been included in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill that will be brought up for a vote in the House in the coming weeks. First, Congressman Lieu requested $1.5 million for the Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center, which provides around-the-clock behavioral health care for the community and for people experiencing homelessness. Second, Rep. Lieu requested $1 million to help increase enrollment for the Ready to Succeed Scholarship program, an innovative college and career accelerator organization with foster youth and first-generation college student participants.

Last year, Congressman Lieu secured $2 million for a community funding project in Santa Monica.

"The two Santa Monica community projects for which I requested funding support vulnerable people in our community. The Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center provides passionate, safe care for those experiencing homelessness, and the Ready to Succeed program lifts up underprivileged youth and empowers them to reach their full potential. I am grateful to both of these organizations for the heroic work they do and will work hard to secure the funding they need to continue making our community a better place. Securing funding to support these programs is a top priority."

$1,500,000 for Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center: The Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center will provide compassionate and cost-effective around-the-clock behavioral health care for the community, including access to safe temporary housing and stabilizing care. Santa Monica will convert an existing City-owned facility to accommodate 24/7 intakes from first responders and local emergency rooms. While the long-term behavioral health strategy will serve various vulnerable Santa Monica populations, the first phase of the 24/7 center will focus on people experiencing homelessness. The Center will serve as a safe alternative for first responders to drop off people who will benefit from behavioral health care and do not meet the level of crisis to require emergency rooms, psychiatric urgent cares, or jail.$1,000,000 for Ready to Succeed: Ready to Succeed is an innovative college and career accelerator organization with 200 foster youth and first-generation college student participants and 100 alumni. Current program participants have achieved the following: 90% graduate college within 4.5 years, 92% secure a job within 6 months of graduation, and 95% say they can envision a bright future for the first time. This new funding will help increase program enrollment by 15% and reach even more foster youth looking to complete college and lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Background:

Last year, in Fiscal Year 2022, Congressman Lieu secured nearly $11 million in federal funding for local projects in Los Angeles County. The projects address homelessness, protect our environment, support our veterans, and more. The Santa Monica projects are among 15 community projects for which Congressman Lieu has requested funding in Fiscal Year 2023.

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