She was struck by the number of clients spun through the system countless times without getting treatment for addiction or mental illness. In their research, they came upon a tool that could address chronic severe mental illness and addiction, and it was hiding in plain sight: in a book of California statutes, namely Section 5200 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. It detailed the frustrations of families, outreach workers and first responders and concluded that 5200 could help break down some of the bureaucratic barriers to life-changing mental health care. Despite some progress, homelessness is still a public catastrophe, and gravely ill people are a haunting representation of policy failures. Supporters of 5200 include Bay Area resident Teresa Pasquini, a mental health reform advocate whose brother and son have both dealt with severe mental illness.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 21, 2026 13:24 UTC