Story perspectives

CARE Court Program Expands Amid Criticism and High Costs

12/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

The CARE court program will expand in January despite criticisms.
Launched in 2023 to assist mentally ill and homeless individuals, the program has spent $328 million and costs over $700,000 per participant, delivering 684 voluntary treatment agreements and 22 court-ordered plans.
Critics, including Anita Fisher (former advocate), call it a failure and say petitions are dismissed.
Gavin Newsom, California Governor, defends the initiative and attributes shortcomings to county-level failures.

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Story summary

The CARE court program will expand in January despite criticisms.
Launched in 2023 to assist mentally ill and homeless individuals, the program has spent $328 million and costs over $700,000 per participant, delivering 684 voluntary treatment agreements and 22 court-ordered plans.
Critics, including Anita Fisher (former advocate), call it a failure and say petitions are dismissed.
Gavin Newsom, California Governor, defends the initiative and attributes shortcomings to county-level failures.