DISTRICT FIVE

Behavioral Health

In July 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved using $44.3 million in state bridge housing funds to provide more housing for county residents who have serious behavioral health conditions and who were experiencing homelessness. The funding is specifically going to help create more beds within licensed board-and-care facilities—which can be home-like settings or larger facilities for people who need some specialized care but not in a hospital or clinical setting. 

This year, the County reached a milestone in a drug disposal program designed to help people—children in particular—from accidentally overdosing on opioids that are prescribed to people who undergo surgical or dental procedures. The program gives pharmacies, doctors and dentists special “drug-deactivating” pouches to give to patients. People can put their left-over or expired opioids in the pouch, add warm water and the drugs are rendered harmless. The County gave out more than 1,200 pouches in just May and June. 

Environmental Sustainability

In May 2024, the County spent $1.2 million to buy 222 acres for open space and species protection adjacent to the Mount Olympus County Preserve in Pala-Pauma.

This past year, the County also moved forward with a plan to allow wine operations in unincorporated communities like Valley Center to expand their operations. The streamlined plan considers the wine industry market, zoning and geographic characteristics to find the right lands for wineries in agricultural zones governed by the County’s Tiered Winery Ordinance.

Equity

The Sheriff’s Office created the free Blue Envelope Program to help deputies and people they interact with who have problems communicating with authority figures because they are on the autism spectrum disorder, or have dementia or other challenges. They can display the Blue Envelope logo to alert the deputy to the condition.

Healthy and Safe Communities

This past year, the County moved ahead on a new 6.7-acre park in Fallbrook that will feature an all-wheel park or skatepark, shaded picnic and play areas, a multipurpose field, a walking trail, nature trails and separate off-leash zones for small dogs and large dogs. The park will also include a native plant garden, a 60-space permeable parking lot, bike parking, an ADA-accessible restroom and a combined drinking fountain and water bottle filling station.

The County also moved to spend nearly $1 million to make life safer and more fun for walkers and bicyclists in many unincorporated communities, including Fallbrook, by improving traffic intersections. An extra $40 million for road safety in our newly adopted budget will go toward crosswalks, curb ramps, guardrails, new sidewalks and bike lanes next year.

Homelessness and Affordable Housing

In November 2023, the County and partners celebrated the grand opening of the 50-home Valley Senior Village in Escondido.  The apartment community was designed for people 62 years of age and older and serves low-income and formerly unsheltered seniors. The project was a collaboration among the County, National CORE and San Diego Community Housing Corporation.

Public Safety and Justice Reform