An opening for the Sierra Sunrise bridge housing project is scheduled for Friday. Screengrab contributed

The Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health will open new bridge housing for 120 Fresno County residents made possible with a $21 million award.

The Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health in partnership with the RH Community Builders will celebrate the opening of one of two new Bridge Housing Programs on Friday. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at 949 N. Parkway Drive in Fresno.

The Department of Behavioral Health secured $21.8 million from the state to develop local Behavioral Health Bridge Housing.

One location, Sierra Sunrise located on Parkway Drive, will provide bridge housing for 60 people. The second location, Phoenix Landing,  will provide homes for an additional 120 people.

The Department of Behavioral Health has established more than 400 units in the past five years with 454 more under construction or planned to be ready by 2025.

These Bridge Housing Programs are intended to help the immediate and sustainable housing needs of people experiencing homelessness who have serious mental illness and/or, substance use disorder, including prioritization for those who will be participating in Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act program that will begin in late 2024 in Fresno County. 

“To be effective at addressing homelessness in our region. we cannot solely increase housing/shelter bed inventory but must also surround those experiencing homelessness with the supportive services they need to thrive,” said Amina Flores-Becker Deputy County Administrative Officer in a press release, “this Bridge Housing Program will provide much needed relief for many currently unhoused and experiencing behavioral health challenges.”

The program will provide support with Care Pods that offer a multidisciplinary approach for whole-person care. Participants will be able to reside in the units for 90-180 days working toward long term housing.

“We are excited for our county and community. The awarding of these funds to provide Behavioral Health Bridge Housing builds on other efforts that we’ve implemented here in Fresno that we know are effective,” said Susan Holt, the Director of Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health in the press release.