Funding will go towards Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center and Ready to Succeed Scholarship program
By Sam Catanzaro
Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) has secured $2.5 million in federal funding for two community projects in Santa Monica for the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill, recently signed into law by President Biden.
The first project is the Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center, which will receive $1.5 million to provide around-the-clock behavioral health care to vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness. The second project is the Ready to Succeed Scholarship program, which will receive $1 million to increase enrollment and help foster youth and first-generation college students reach their full potential.
“The two Santa Monica community projects for which I secured funding support vulnerable people in our community,” Lieu said. “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 to make our community a better place.”
The $1,500,000 allocated for the Santa Monica Behavioral Health Center will be used to convert an existing City-owned facility into a 24/7 intake center for first responders and local emergency rooms. This 24/7 center will focus on providing behavioral health care for people experiencing homelessness across various vulnerable populations in Santa Monica.
The additional $1 million grant awarded towards the Ready to Succeed Scholarship program aims at further increasing enrollment and creating even more opportunities for foster youth and first-generation college students looking to complete college and lead meaningful lives after graduation. According to statistics available on Rep. Lieu’s website, current participants have achieved remarkable success such as 90% graduating college within 4.5 years of enrolling, 92% securing jobs within 6 months of graduation, and 95% being able to envision a bright future ahead of them with this program’s help.
Last year, Rep. Lieu secured nearly $11 million in federal funding across 10 projects throughout Los Angeles County – including the $2 million allotted towards converting an existing parking lot into affordable housing in Santa Monica.
