Santa Clara County has opened Vermont House, a new 15-bed residential treatment facility serving people with serious behavioral health needs exiting incarceration. The facility marks the latest step in the county’s effort to create 530 new treatment beds for residents with severe mental illnesses by 2030, following a Mental Health Crisis declaration made in 2022.
Progress Toward Goals
Since the Mental Health Crisis declaration in July 2022, Santa Clara County has added 208 behavioral health treatment beds—nearly 40% of its 530-bed goal. These beds include 53 for acute care, 69 for subacute, 69 for mental health community residential, and 17 for substance use residential and withdrawal management. An additional 227 beds are in development. The county has allocated more than $870 million for behavioral health programs and services in the proposed FY25-26 budget, which includes investments in treatment beds, substance use services, and enhanced mobile crisis response, including a new mobile narcotic treatment program.
Vermont House Functions
Vermont House, operated by Community Solutions, provides transitional housing with on-site treatment for clients leaving incarceration whose mental health does not require hospitalization or crisis stabilization but would benefit from structured treatment and support with independent living skills. The facility, which the County purchased from the City of San Jose in January 2025 using a California Health Facilities Financing Authority grant, offers psychiatric services, case management, addiction treatment, medication support, individual and group treatment for mental health and co-occurring disorders, and discharge planning to help residents transition to lower levels of care when they meet their independent living goals.
County Executive James R. Williams stated, “The opening of Vermont House is one example of how the County is expanding residential treatment options, especially for those leaving our County jail system who need access to mental health services.” Construction is 80% complete on the Behavioral Health Services Center on the Valley Medical Center campus, a 77-bed facility expected to open in the second quarter of 2026.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news.santaclaracounty.gov/opening-new-behavioral-health-facility-latest-county-effort-add-treatment-beds