Humboldt Seeks Public Input on Behavioral Health Services Plan
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services announced regional meetings to gather community input on the Behavioral Health Services Act integrated plan for 2026 through 2029, and to explain differences from the former Mental Health Services Act. The meetings matter because the law change adds a dedicated housing component and could reshape local funding priorities for mental health and housing supports across rural and urban communities.
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services announced on December 12 that it will host a series of regional meetings in January and February to share information about the Behavioral Health Services Act and to solicit public input for the BHSA 2026 to 2029 Integrated Plan. The gatherings are intended to clarify how the BHSA differs from the previous Mental Health Services Act and to hear from residents who use services, family members, providers, and community groups.
The meetings are scheduled across the county to reach rural and urban populations. Eastern Humboldt residents may join by Zoom on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Meeting ID: 160 550 5499, Passcode: jc9Jzu. Southern Humboldt will meet in person at the Garberville Library Conference Room, 715 Cedar Street in Garberville, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m. An Eel River Valley session will be held at Adventist Community Service Humboldt Alcohol Recovery Treatment Program, 2331 Rohnerville Road in Fortuna, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m. A session for Eureka will take place at the DHHS Professional Building, 507 F Street in Eureka, on Friday, January 30, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Northern Humboldt will meet at the Blue Lake Community Resource Center, 111 Greenwood Avenue in Blue Lake, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The BHSA stems from Proposition 63 which passed in 2004 establishing a one percent tax on personal incomes above one million dollars to fund mental health services. In 2024, Proposition 1 revised county requirements for those funds, renaming the program to BHSA and creating a dedicated housing component. For Humboldt this means future integrated plans will need to address both behavioral health services and housing stability, a shift with potential impact on service delivery, resource allocation, and equity for unhoused residents and those in remote communities.
County officials are asking for community perspectives as they craft local priorities and implementation details. To RSVP or request more information, email bhsacomments@co.humboldt.ca.us or call 707 441 3770. Additional information is available at humboldtgov.org/BHSA.
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