Watson finds a new pot of money for homeless

Last week the Central Health Board of Managers approved a $650 million budget that increases taxes by 6% over the no-new-revenue rate to boost funding for mental health.

The budget, which is expected to get final approval from the Travis County Commissioners Court tomorrow, sets aside $33 million for psychiatric beds at UT's Dell Seton Medical Center for those in need of the most intensive treatment. It also appropriates $16 million towards the establishment of a regional no-refusal mental health crisis center that local officials are hoping the state will also help fund.

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The mayor sent a sternly-worded letter to Central Health last month telling the public health authority that it needed to do more to help address mental health, addiction and homelessness in the area.

This certainly isn't going to solve homelessness in Austin, but it's a meaningful effort to do something about those on the street suffering with the most severe mental illness. These people are not going to be helped by the other types of housing interventions: emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing. They also cost local government a fortune because they're constantly being arrested or sent to the hospital.