Measure O: County of Sonoma, Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services

The history of Measure O

By mid-2018, Sonoma County was in the midst of an overwhelming crisis and faced a dire need to expand behavioral health and homelessness services. The devastating wildfires of 2017 had destroyed over 5% of the county’s housing stock, leaving thousands without homes and creating massive disruptions to local health care and social support systems. The fires compounded an already stretched health care system unable to keep up with demand for behavioral health services as thousands of residents struggled with the trauma and stress of rebuilding their lives. At the same time, budget shortfalls had led to significant cuts in crucial services, leaving many in the community without adequate support or resources during a period of intense need.

In response to these growing challenges, a diverse coalition of community stakeholders, including healthcare providers, local leaders, nonprofit organizations and residents, came together to address the imperative for accessible, sustainable mental health and homelessness services throughout Sonoma County. After extensive planning, discussions and advocacy efforts, this collaboration led to the creation of the Measure O ballot measure in 2020.

Passed with strong support from over two-thirds of Sonoma County voters in November 2020, Measure O introduced a quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to protecting and expanding essential mental health and homelessness services for the following 10 years. Through the implementation of Measure O, Sonoma County now has an expenditure plan in place that generates approximately $30 million annually and is specifically directed to support critical needs across five key categories:

• Behavioral Health Facilities
• Emergency Psychiatric and Crisis Services
• Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services
• Behavioral Health Homeless Care Coordination
• Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing

As Measure O services continue to grow, we have already seen the tremendous positive effects it is having in communities across Sonoma County. This indispensable funding is helping to ensure that the county’s most vulnerable residents have access to the mental health, housing and community resources they need to recover and thrive.