Mayor Bass Secures $2 Million Federal Funding to Expand Mental Health Crisis Response in Los Angeles
Mayor Karen Bass has announced the allocation of over $2 million in federal funds to expand Los Angeles' CIRCLE program, which focuses on mental health crisis intervention. The CIRCLE program, which stands for Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement, deploys mental health professionals and peer specialists to handle nonviolent crisis situations, aiming to de-escalate and connect individuals with necessary services without involving law enforcement. This initiative, managed by the mayor's Office of Community Safety, currently operates 24/7 across various regions including Downtown Los Angeles, Central Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley. The new funding will facilitate the hiring of additional healthcare workers and extend the program's reach further into the San Fernando Valley. The program is part of a broader effort to provide a more compassionate response to mental health crises, particularly benefiting unhoused residents. 
